Despite Jimmy Butler’s Request, ‘Close Friend’ Neymar Ditches the NBA Finals To Hang Out With Rosalia at F1 Spanish GP

Neymar Jr. is a deviant – in a good way. The Brazilian soccer star has been sidelined from the soccer pitch due to a knee injury. However, he has been busy exploring other sports instead of sulking and waiting to recover. He has been attending the F1 Grand Prix recently, enjoying the thrill of high-speed car racing.

However, while doing so, he ignored a prior request from one of his friends, NBA star Jimmy Butler. On Sunday, Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat faced off against Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, hoping to tie the series. Jimmy Butler was expecting to be joined by his dear friend, Neymar Jr, in the audience to offer support, but the Brazilian had other plans.

Jimmy Butler wanted to see his friend courtside

In an interview days before the match, Butler expressed his hopes of seeing Neymar in the crowd. Butler’s anticipation of seeing Neymar at the NBA finals was clear when he pointed to the camera and jokingly said, “So Ney, I know you’re looking somewhere. You’d better be there”.

He also sang Neymar’s praises as one of the people who inspire him every day to be great. He also added, “He’s obviously a close friend of mine, so I pay attention to him a lot. But with him in my corner, I think I’ll be okay”. Butler and Neymar have been spotted in each other’s company several times in the past.

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The two have shared a strong friendship since 2016 when Butler saw Neymar win a gold medal for his nation. While Butler would have wanted the support of his friend at a crucial moment in his career, Neymar had other plans to attend.

So where was Neymar?

Despite Butler’s request, Neymar Jr had planned to attend the Spanish GP in Barcelona, as he did earlier for the Monaco GP. Amidst the thrill of high-speed car racing, he had the opportunity to hobnob with Spanish singer Rosalia.

The two were spotted having a good time, relishing the intensity of the race and watching Max Verstappen‘s masterclass. While Jimmy Butler may have missed his friend’s presence in the NBA Finals audience, he still picked up the win and tied the series 1-1.

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