The Barcelona superstar was dismissed against Colombia but he maintains that he is innocent, while claiming that Dunga’s side can win the tournament without him

Neymar has denied trying to attack referee Enrique Ossess after Brazil‘s 1-0 loss to Colombia last week, and insists that he left the Copa America voluntarily.

The forward departed Chile on Monday after receiving a four-match suspension for attempting to headbutt Jeison Murillo during the Selecao’s 1-0 defeat to Colombia last Thursday before allegedly insulting the official.

Neymar, though, says that the decision for him to leave Brazil’s base was a joint one, and he has defended his innocence over the furore in Santiago.

“It was a family decision to leave,” he told Jornal Nacional. “I talked to my father, and then I told Dunga and team manager Gilmar Rinaldi. They agreed.

“Nothing happened at the tunnel, basically. I was inside of it, and waiting to ask the ref why he dismissed me. Then a huddle took place and security guards came in, thinking I was nervous, that I wanted to attack him.

“That’s how it came to this.”

Despite his absence, Neymar remains confident that his compatriots will eventually win the tournament after seeing them progress to the quarter-finals from Group C.

“I think there’s a lot of life in Selecao without Neymar. The players have shown that they can win games and win Copa America,” the Barcelona forward told Jornal Nacional.

“Brazil has plenty of great players. I’m absolutely confident of this team and the players that are there representing it. They are all big names who’ll take care of business.”

Brazil will face Paraguay, the team that knocked them out on penalties at the same stage in 2011, this Saturday.