Neymar says Nike sexual assault claim an 'absurd lie'
Nike did not give a reason when it terminated the deal in August 2020.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Neymar said Friday that Nike s claim it parted ways with him last year because he refused to cooperate with its internal investigation into an employee s accusation he sexually assaulted her was an "absurd lie."
"(To) state that my contract was terminated because I did not contribute in good faith to an investigation, is an absurd lie," the Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain star said in a statement on Instagram.
"I was not given the opportunity to defend myself. I was not given the opportunity to know who this person was that was allegedly offended. I don t even know her. I ve never had any kind of relationship or approach with this person."
The statement came a day after Nike said it had ended its sponsorship deal with Neymar over the alleged 2016 incident -- which was reported to the company in 2018 -- and his failure to cooperate with its internal investigation.
Nike did not give a reason when it terminated the deal in August 2020.
The company had sponsored Neymar, 29, since he was a 13-year-old prodigy.
The superstar is now a poster boy for Puma. His deal with the German sportswear giant was announced in September 2020.
