Neymar apology under fire
Neymar’s decision to use a sponsored advert to admit he sometimes over-reacted to fouls at the World Cup has backfired, with Brazilian marketing experts saying it had made the Paris Saint-Germain striker’s image even worse.
Under the title ‘A New Man Every Day,’ Sunday’s video was backed by personal care products maker Gillette and broadcast on several Brazilian TV networks.
“You may think
I exaggerate. And sometimes I do exaggerate. But the truth is I suffer on the pitch,” Neymar said in the advert, referring to the constant fouls he received at the World Cup. “I took long to accept your criticism. I took long to look at myself in the mirror and become a new man.”
Brazil was knocked out by Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinals earlier this month.
Marketing specialists said the advert damaged the 26-year-old player’s brand as much as his histrionics did in Russia.
“The whole market waited 15 days since the end of the World Cup to hear from him,” Amir Somoggi, a partner at marketing company Sports Value, told The Associated Press. “He gave some interviews, but did not admit his exaggerations then. Now he has hidden behind a TV commercial to do that. This was great for the sponsor, after all we are talking about the brand. But it was not good for Neymar, who now has an even bigger image crisis to handle.” ...
Tomorrow’s MLS All-Star Game took another hit when LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a former Juventus forward, announced he will not play in Atlanta against his old team. Earlier, Juventus stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain said they would not join their team on the U.S. tour. …
Serbia’s World Cup forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, who joined Fulham on loan from Newcastle in January, signed a permanent deal with the newlypromoted English Premier League club.
No transfer fee was disclosed but media reports have put it at 22 million pounds ($28.9 million), rising to 27 million pounds ($35.4 million) with add-ons.
“I’m very glad to officially become a Fulham player,” the 23-year-old Mitrovic said after signing a five-year contract. “I’m happy to the moon and back.”
Iginla ends career in style
Jarome Iginla closed his 20-year NHL career in the city where he was the face of the franchise.
The 41-year-old winger made his retirement official in Calgary, Alberta, where he spent 16 seasons with the Flames.
Iginla entertained a packed news conference at Scotiabank Saddledome with humorous stories about his career and teammates.
He’s the Flames’ all-time leader in goals with 525. …
The Nashville Predators signed restricted free agent Miikka Salomaki to a two-year deal worth $750,000 in each of the next two seasons. Salomaki, 25, played 58 games last season for the Predators with two goals and six assists. He ranked fourth with 114 hits last season and blocked a career-high 35 shots. The 5-foot-11, 203-pound Salomaki also has the fourth-most hits for the Predators since 2015-16 with 299. …
The New York Rangers agreed to a $5,175,000, one-year deal with restricted free agent and Boston College product Kevin Hayes.
Frost: Lost and found
Scott Frost’s championship rings and other items reported stolen from his home have been found.
Police said the new Nebraska coach located them in his garage, although some other memorabilia he reported stolen is still missing.
Frost had reported Sunday night that burglars entered an unlocked garage door over the weekend and stole memorabilia originally estimated at more than $100,000.
Originally reported missing were two Nebraska championship rings, 10 Oregon championship rings, two Central Florida championship rings, five pairs of Air Jordan shoes, football helmets and a gaming console.
Still missing were the shoes, five football helmets and photographs.