Neymar faces legal trouble at his private villa

Neymar is sued by his former personal chef for allegedly forcing her to work exhausting 16-hour days at his villa.

According to The Sun, the woman (whose identity was not disclosed) stated she developed health issues after months of continuous high-intensity work. Currently, the Santos FC forward is facing a lawsuit in a Brazilian labor court. According to the complaint, the initial contract stipulated she would work approximately 10 hours daily, from 7 AM to 5 PM (Monday to Thursday) and 7 AM to 4 PM on Fridays, but these regulations were frequently disregarded.

The chef claimed she had to work over 14 hours per day, sometimes even staying until midnight to prepare meals for up to 150 people, including Neymar and his friends. According to the lawsuit documents, she worked at Neymar's villa in Mangaratiba, Rio de Janeiro from July last year until February this year.

She was hired through an intermediary company to cook at Neymar's main residence, Casa Hotel Portobello, as well as the adjacent complex Condomínio Portobello.

The chef described the job as requiring strenuous physical activities, such as carrying meat pieces weighing around 10kg, constantly checking refrigerators, unloading groceries with many heavy bags, and having to stand for long periods while working.

According to her, the heavy lifting caused back and hip injuries, forcing her to seek medical examinations and undergo various tests. In the lawsuit, she demands Neymar to cover medical expenses and provide compensation. Her official salary was approximately £566 per month, but with overtime pay and bonuses, her actual income often reached £1,062 per month.

The complaint also alleges she had to work on weekends, especially Sundays, despite the contract specifying weekday work only. Additionally, she stated she rarely received lunch breaks, contrary to contractual terms. Under Brazilian labor law, anyone working over 6 hours per shift must be granted at least 1 hour for meals or rest.

Overall, the chef demands £37,000 (262,000 reais) in compensation from Neymar and the outsourcing company. This amount includes severance pay, FGTS fund contributions, overtime pay, compensation for missed breaks, moral damages, medical costs, and living allowances.

The Brazilian forward owns two luxurious villas in Mangaratiba. One of them, valued at around £4 million, spans 5,000m², includes 6 suites, a swimming pool, an entertainment area, and 10 guest rooms, which is reportedly where the chef stated she worked.

This villa also features a helicopter landing pad, a tennis court, and a wine cellar with capacity for up to 3,000 bottles. Neymar's representatives declined to comment on the matter when contacted. Previously, another property of Neymar in the Aero Rural area also drew attention when investigated for constructing an artificial lake. He was fined 16 million reais, but the penalty was later suspended and ultimately the player was cleared.