Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has denied flouting social distancing rules after returning to his native Brazil.
The 28-year-old was given permission to leave France, which is in lockdown due to the coronavirus, to return home.
However, pictures emerged on Instagram of the Brazil forward playing foot-volleyball with a group of friends.
That led to accusations that Neymar was not self-isolating after being given permission to leave Paris Saint-Germain, but the world's most expensive player has rejected those allegations.
A statement published by the Globo media group in Brazil said: "The photograph... shows Neymar alongside people who are in quarantine with him, people who travelled with him from Paris to Brazil.
"Neymar invited those people to spend the 14 days in quarantine there before joining their respective families."
The statement added that the only visit he had received was from his son Davi Lucca and the striker had avoided meeting other relatives, including his mother, grandmother and sister.
"The house where the player is fulfilling quarantine is completely isolated, and allows peace and serenity for him to continue training," it added.
"Neymar continues to do his daily workout, to prevent injury and maintain his fitness, with his coach Ricardo Rosa. (He is) looking forward to the end of this sad moment for humanity and the return to work that will follow."
