FULL TIME: PSG play to a 2-2 draw with Amiens #ASCPSG
Paris Saint-Germain talisman Neymar has suffered a fresh injury to his right metatarsal, the club said Thursday, marring the holders’ advance to the last 16 of the French Cup with a 2-0 win over Strasbourg.
A fractured metatarsal curtailed the Brazilian’s last season, and the recurrence comes just three weeks ahead of the first leg of PSG’s crunch Champions League clash against Manchester United.
The severity of the new injury is not yet known, although Neymar was able to walk off the field unsupported.
“Initial tests carried out revealed a painful reactivation of the injury to the fifth metatarsal,” a club statement said Thursday.
“The treatment will depend on progress over the coming days,” it said, adding all medical options would be considered.
Neymar initially tried to continue playing. But he covered his eyes — in tears, according to witnesses — as he was forced off to be replaced by Moussa Diaby just after the hour mark.
His early departure was a worrying moment for PSG, with the world’s most expensive player having missed the final three months of last season after breaking the same bone.
Each season PSG, which dominates France’s domestic league, is judged according to its Champions League results.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel after the game said: “The doctor is worried, ‘Ney’ is worried, because it is the same foot, the same place.”
“It was a situation where he was fouled three times, one after the other. The referee didn’t give anything. He twisted his foot.”
The PSG coach was also unhappy with suggestions from the Strasbourg players and coach that Neymar had provoked the injury by winding up his opponents.
“It’s Neymar’s style, but don’t come and complain when you get kicked,” Strasbourg’s Anthony Goncalves told broadcaster Eurosport.
“He is a great player, I respect him. He can enjoy himself but don’t come blubbering afterwards.”
Edinson Cavani and Angel di Maria got the goals on a bitterly cold night at the Parc des Princes.
Tuchel had left out the ill Kylian Mbappe for this game, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting handed a rare start in place of the superstar France forward.
The Cameroon international set up Cavani for the fourth-minute opener, before Di Maria — who had earlier hit the post — finished into the roof of the net 10 minutes from time as PSG stay on track to win the French Cup for the fifth season running.
Before kick-off, fans applauded and chanted the name of Emiliano Sala, the former Nantes striker who is feared dead after the plane he was travelling in disappeared over the Channel Islands on Monday as he was on his way to join his new club Cardiff City.
According to reports from Spain, Paris St-Germain have accepted Neymar will join the La Liga giants sooner or later.
And rather than waste time and energy on changing the Brazilian’s mind, they have been working on finding his future replacement.
The player they have identified as being up to the task of stepping into Neymar’s boots is Antoine Griezmann. The Atletico Madrid striker almost joined Barcelona this summer before he changed his mind.
Griezmann instead signed a new deal at the Wanda Metropolitana ahead of winning the World Cup with France. But Atletico will not be able to stand in PSG’s way if they come for the 27-year-old. Okdiario’s chief pundit Eduardo Inda, speaking on El Chiringuito says the Ligue 1 outfit see Griezmann as relatively good value.
”If Real Madrid sign Neymar, PSG will need to sign a star, and they plan to sign Griezmann,” he said.
“Right now, with the crazy prices that are handled, he’s not expensive”
“Right now, with the crazy prices that are handled, he’s not expensive.”Griezmann’s current buyout clause is set at £178m. Inda also confirmed Neymar would already be a Real player if he had pushed for it this summer.”If he had wanted, he would be at the Bernabeu,” Inda revealed.
“Madrid wanted him, but there was fear.”Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has admitted he would rather sign Neymar ahead of Kylian Mbappe. He said: “In the Barcelona team of Luis Enrique, when he needed to work, he worked.”Mbappe is more individualistic and doesn’t have a definitive role. Neymar has a fixed position.”
Niko Kovac confirmed Friday that Germany star Jerome Boateng will stay at Bayern Munich, despite weeks of negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain, but Juan Bernat is poised to join the French champions.
With the transfer window to close at 1600 GMT in Germany and France, Bayern’s head coach confirmed Boateng, 29, will not join PSG, despite negotiations, but Spain left-back Bernat is set to sign for the French champions for 15 million euros ($17.5m).
“Jerome is a world-class centre-back. It is all about him staying fit and free from injury, then I am convinced that he will be able to help not only FC Bayern, but also Germany’s national team,” said Kovac.
“The same applies for Mats Hummels and Niklas Suele.
“I do not know if there is a club in Europe that has three centre-backs like that.
“It’s important to be able to rotate.
“Jerome is an absolute professional and will give his all for this club.”
Kovac revealed Bernat, David Alaba’s under-study at Bayern, is set to be the last player the Munich club will sell in the current transfer window.
“Juan is in Paris and will probably sign a contract there, apart from that there will be no more activity before 1800 (when the transfer window closes) – we have agreed on that,” said Kovac.
“We have 19 outfield players, one of whom is injured (Kingsley Coman) and we will certainly use Under-23 players if the need arises.”
Should Bernat put pen to paper for PSG, he will be the third Bayern player to leave in recent weeks after Arturo Vidal joined Barcelona and Sebastian Rudy quit on Monday for Schalke.
Bayern are at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday in the Bundesliga with a point after Munich crashed to a 4-1 home defeat the last time the club’s met under Kovac’s predecessor Jupp Heynckes.
“No one likes that, especially not my lads,” said Kovac after Bayern beat Hoffenheim 3-1 on the opening weekend of the season when Stuttgart lost 1-0 at Mainz.
“They are highly motivated to erase that one.”
AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly objecting against Real Madrid trying to sign Neymar. Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has been a long-standing target for Real, with Florentino Perez eager to bring him to the Bernabeu.
Although the Brazilian only headed to the Parc des Princes last summer in a world-record £200million deal, speculation has been rife that he will return to Spain, even though he was prolific before he succumbed to a metatarsal injury.
But Spanish outlet Don Balon claim Ronaldo is trying to put a stop to the deal. It is said that Ronaldo is not alone with his view on opposing a deal.
Don Balon also suggests Zinedine Zidane is against it, as he doesn’t feel Neymar would fit into his plans while Marco Asensio also has his reservations.
Goals from Edinson Cavani and Christopher Nkunku were not enough for Paris Saint-Germain to win at Amiens in Ligue 1 on Friday.
Champions Paris Saint-Germain saw their hopes of a record Ligue 1 points total dented by a second successive 2-2 draw as Amiens' top-flight survival was secured.
PSG can still better their 2015-16 points haul of 96, but they are five short of doing so with two games remaining after another frustrating stalemate, with Unai Emery's tenure threatening to reach an underwhelming conclusion.
The capital club needed a late Edinson Cavani brace to rescue a point against Guingamp five days earlier and could not build on a first-half opener from the same man at Stade de la Licorne.
Amiens threatened early and Moussa Konate was finally rewarded for his tireless running when he drew Amiens level in the 47th minute, and he struck again with 10 minutes left to cancel out Christopher Nkunku's superb goal.
Kylian Mbappe missed a glorious stoppage-time chance to deny Amiens the point required to guarantee a second straight season in Ligue 1, meaning PSG must reflect on another disappointing outing as they struggle in the aftermath of confirmation that Emery is to depart.
The Coupe de France final against third tier Les Herbiers on Tuesday, as well as the return of Neymar to Paris following injury, means Emery can still sign off with a domestic treble.
A sloppy PSG start set the tone and allowed the hosts their first opening after just 22 seconds, Quentin Cornette's bobbling effort forcing Alphonse Areola into a low save.
Cavani broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. Javier Pastore's weighted ball split the Amiens defence, giving the Uruguayan time to control and aim a finish under Regis Gurtner.
The goalkeeper reacted well to a powerful Nkunku drive, however, and denied Angel Di Maria shortly before the interval with an instinctive stop.
Amiens created a chance soon after the restart and Areola's smart save from Konate was this time in vain. The home side kept the move alive and Presnel Kimpembe stepped up to meet Thomas Monconduit, leaving Konate free to find the bottom-left corner.
But the pressure predictably built on the Amiens goal and, after Giovani Lo Celso shot just wide, Nkunku curled beyond Gurtner from the edge of the area to restore PSG's lead.
The visitors sought a third goal but they were instead caught out at the back again, with Konate the beneficiary. He shot low and hard and the ball squirmed under Areola and into the net.
That was almost not enough to earn a deserved share of the spoils, with substitute Mbappe blasting wide in the 93rd minute as PSG's last chance went begging.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery said Friday he will leave the French club at the end of the campaign after Champions League failures in both his seasons in charge.
Emery’s two-year contract ends in June and he had been expected to leave anyway.
He said he met with PSG’s Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Antero Henrique and “we decided that we would not continue to work together”.
“I’ve told the players,” Emery said at a press conference on Friday ahead of the league match against Guingamp on Sunday.
The German Thomas Tuchel, without a club since his tumultuous departure from Borussia Dortmund in May 2017, is seen as the hot favourite to succeed Emery by French media.
“His immense passion for football and his commitment to the job have allowed the club to continue to anchor itself among the elite of French and international football,” said Al-Khelaifi in a club statement.
“I congratulate Unai for his commitment to our project and I wish him, on behalf of the club, full success in the challenges that await him.”
Spaniard Emery arrived having achieved continental success, winning the Europa League three years running with Sevilla.
But his track record in the Champions League at Sevilla, as well as with Valencia and Spartak Moscow before that, had left much to be desired and Emery’s time in France will forever be associated with failure in that competition.
PSG had previously reached four consecutive quarter-finals following the Qatari takeover of the club in 2012, but Emery oversaw a humiliating defeat to Barcelona in the last 16 a year ago, losing 6-1 at the Camp Nou after a 4-0 win in the first leg.
The club then committed to spending 400 million euros ($483 million) on Neymar and Kylian Mbappe alone — the two most expensive transfer deals in history — last year, but Paris were eliminated in the last 16 again this year, going out to Real Madrid.
Those defeats suggested that, far from closing the gap to Europe’s elite, PSG were going backwards.
– Uncertain future –
Under Emery, PSG lost their French title to Monaco before regaining it this season. The club won the French League Cup both seasons. They took the French Cup in 2017 and are back in the final this year where they face third-division Les Herbiers on May 8.
“To achieve its number one objective, which is the Champions League, the club first of all needs to be strong in France,” said Emery, 46.
“This year we have won the club’s seventh league title and we are only missing one to become the most successful club in France.
“I am sure that in the coming years, by continuing to win everything in France, the club will do it.”
Asked if he had any regrets from his two years at the Parc des Princes, Emery added: “I am very happy to have had the chance to work here. It is a great experience as a coach.
“This has been a good season but we still have the French Cup to left to win.
“We lost against Real but they are showing that they are maybe still the strongest team in Europe.”
Emery’s future is uncertain, although he has been linked with a return to Real Sociedad, the club from his native Basque Country whom he played for at the start of his career.
“I’m going to see what’s best for my future,” Emery said. “I’m very focused for Sunday (and Guingamp) and the final of the French Cup. After that I’ll see.”
With four games of the Ligue 1 season remaining, PSG can still become the first team ever to get to 100 points in France’s top flight.
Paris Saint-German forward Neymar hit the town to celebrate his girlfriend's sister's birthday in Sao Paulo before showing off his dance moves on one leg later in the evening. The PSG forward was pictured arriving at a nightclub and stopped for photos alongside his model girlfriend, Bruna Marquezine.
Neymar hobbled along in a protective boot and propped himself up on crutches with the couple both dressed in black. The striker is back in his homeland trying to recover from a broken metatarsal in his right foot.
It seems Neymar won't allow the injury to dampen his spirits or restrict his movement too much as a video from the night showed him dancing along to some music.
The 26-year-old stood on his healthy left leg, lifting the right boot above the floor before showing off his moves.
He added the caption: 'So if you can', and is making the best of his difficult situation.
Having suffered the injury in action for PSG back in February, he now faces a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
With the start of the tournament in Russia only 84 days away, Neymar's dreams hang in the balance.
He underwent successful surgery two weeks ago and has regularly shared updates of his rehabilitation from the gym.
He even showed off some dance moves on one leg
With PSG playing no further part in the Champions League after their elimination by Real Madrid and Ligue 1 already wrapped up, Neymar's club season is over.
Source
News reaching us has it that Manchester United have joined the race to sign Paris Saint Germain forward, Neymar jnr. The Red Devils are ready to fight Real Madrid for the signing of the Brazilian star.
Don Balon reports that Neymar, who only joined PSG in a €222 million world-record transfer from Barcelona last summer, could soon be on the move again.
Madrid have long targeted a deal for the attacker, but United are willing to make an offer, with the aim of making Neymar the team’s new leader
Earlier report suggested that Neymar had reportedly asked his father to finalise a move to Real Madrid before this year’s World Cup in Russia.
PSG manager, Unai Emery has spoken on Neymar’s ankle injury. The Brazilian was stretchered off in tears ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
The manager watched on as his star man went over on his ankle in the second half of their Ligue 1 tie against Marseille on Sunday.
There were fears the former Barcelona forward would spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines after an awkward fall.
With PSG’s second-leg clash against Real Madrid on the horizon, Neymar seemed a near certainty to miss PSG’s biggest game of the season as they try to overturn a 3-1 deficit.
But the former Sevilla manager suggested that Neymar’s injury is not as bad as first feared and he may in fact be ready for the tie in nine days time.
He told post-match conference, “The first tests we have done show it is a sprain, we will do more medical examinations to be totally sure.
“Neymar is going to do some new tests. We’re going to stay optimistic.
“If today I had to say yes or no to be fit against Real, I would say yes. I want to be optimistic.”
The Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimović always brings the ultimate excitement on the field. He’s one of the highest scoring footballers of his generation, showing power, sharpness, and artfulness in each game. Known for his sharp tongue and unique expressions, Ibrahimović is also quite a showman off the field.
The Swede never ceases to amaze, winning numerous awards and individual accolades. One thing is sure – Ibrahimović has marked the era of modern football. He’s been indispensable for all the teams he’s played for, from Malmö, through PSG, and Manchester United, where he currently plays.
Take a look at the infographic below, created by the Betfy team, to learn some interesting facts about the football magician Ibrahimović.
Barcelona maestro, Lionel Messi, has said he believes the Catalan giants do not miss Brazilian superstar, Neymar Junior, after his world record move to French side, Paris Saint Germain (PSG).
Messi, who just signed a new deal at Barca, told Marca: “Neymar’s departure has caused the way we play to change.
“We lost a great deal of offensive potential but it favoured us in a defensive sense.
“Currently we are most well-armed in the middle of the field, we have more balance and that makes us stronger defensively
Ousmane Dembele, who was brought in to replace Neymar, has spent most of the season on the sidelines because of injury.
The former Borussia Dortmund man is widely regarded as a star of the future and should give the side a major boost when he returns
Messi and his team-mates have yet to lose a league fixture and have only conceded four goals and they 0-0 draw in Turin against Juventus ensured qualification for the next round of the Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain star Angel Di Maria admitted two separate counts of fraud. The Argentine has been fined £1.76m and handed a one year prison sentence
However, sentences under two years for those with no previous convictions are often suspended in Spain and so he is unlikely to serve time.
Angel Di Maria has been handed a one-year prison sentence and fined £1.76 million after admitting tax fraud.
The former Manchester United winger admitted two separate counts of fraud which each carry a six-month sentence.
Now with Paris Saint-Germain, Di Maria was found guilty of defrauding the Spanish government a sum of £1.14m during his time at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2014.
The former Manchester United star admitted to two separate counts of fraud – however he is unlikely to spend time behind bars as sentences under two years for those with no previous convictions are often suspended
However, the 29-year-old is unlikely to spend any time behind bars. In Spain, sentences of under two-years are often suspended if the convicted person has no previous criminal record.
The Argentine had previously made a deal with authorities to avoid a trial at the Spanish Supreme Court.
Source
Dailymail
Neymar’s huge salary package at Paris Saint-Germain has been put out by Football Leaks. The 25-year-old is just behind Carlos Tevez, as the world’s highest-earning player.
Neymar completed a world-record €222million move to Parc des Princes from Barcelona in the summer, but is also pocketing big sums weekly at his new club.
Football Leaks affirms that the Brazilian earns just over €3m a month in Ligue 1, a figure that works out as a total annual salary of €36.8m.
To put the number claimed by the controversial outlet in perspective, Neymar earns €100,000 a day, €4,000 an hour or a staggering €66 a minute.
Only Tevez, currently in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai Shenhua, takes home a bigger wage, with reports suggesting the Argentine will earn €38.4m from his first year in Asia.
World-record signing, Neymar, has said sorry to Edinson Cavani and his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates, after he argued with the striker over a penalty last weekend.
Neymar and Cavani clashed over who should take a late penalty during Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Lyon at the Parc des Princes.
Cavani missed from 12 yards and L’Equipe reported that the pair had to be separated by team-mates in the changing room after the match.
The French paper now claims the Brazilian has apologised to the PSG squad following the incident.
Manager Unai Emery revealed on Thursday, that both Neymar and Cavani would be trusted to take penalties. But he refused to reveal who was his preferred choice.
- PSG defeat Lyon 2 - 0 at home but match marred by on-field fights by players - Edison Cavani refused to relinquish set-piece duties to fellow attacker Neymar - In the first incident Dani Alves refused to given Cavani the ball to play a free-kick - Own goals from Marcelo and Jeremy Morel gave Unai Emery's side the win
Attackers Edison Cavani and Neymar twice had a falling out over who would be in charge of set-piece duties in PSG's 2 - 0 home win over league rivals Lyon. The home side won the game thanks to two own goals from Marcelo and Jeremy Morel as Unai Emery's side continued their 100% start to the season after six league games.
The win was however marred by two separate incident involving two of the club's attackers. The first incident came when Dani Alves refused to hand Cavani the ball to take a free-kick instead giving it to his country man Neymar to take.
Neymar's attempt was however punched behind as the Paris club chased the game.
The second came when Cavani refused to hand Neymar the ball for a penalty with the Uruguayan succeding this time but his effort was also saved.
PSG still secured the win as they sit top of the Ligue 1 standings with maximum points after six games.
Neymar didn't look too happy allowing Cavani to take the penalty. pic.twitter.com/MS8Kdgg1sI— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) September 17, 2017
French Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain, have decided the ‘fight’ of its two star strikers Edinson Cavani and Neymar over who should take free-kicks and penalties for the club.
This decision came as a result of bells of alarms that were ringing throughout the French capital on Sunday evening as Cavani and Neymar squabbled over who took a penalty against Olympique Lyon.
PSG had hoped the issue could be resolved between the two individuals but the story has since taken on a life of its own on social media.
PSG have been forced to make a decision of their own on the matter, after rumours of Neymar ‘unfollowing’ the former Napoli forward quickly appeared.
The Parisians have now decided that the Uruguayan International will remain the club’s penalty taker, according to MARCA.
Neymar’s 222 million euro arrival looked to have shifted the balance of power at the Parc des Princes.
On Monday, club President, Nasser Al-Khelaifi met with both players in question to discuss the issue.
Further meetings with Unai Emery and Antero Henrique are scheduled for Wednesday
The young France forward is expected to be sidelined for around four
months after suffering a thigh injury against Getafe that has required
surgery
Everything appeared to be back on track. After all the problems suffered
by Barcelona during a troublesome summer, including the departure of
Neymar, the Spanish Supercopa loss to Real Madrid and issues at
boardroom level, there was a new-found optimism after a strong start in
La Liga and the Champions League.
As it turned out, however, another setback was just around the corner.
Because on Saturday, summer signing Ousmane Dembele limped off with a
thigh injury during Barca's 2-1 win at Getafe and it has been confirmed
that the young French forward will be out of action for up to four
months.
Dembele departed in the 25th minute against Getafe and, after tests
with the Catalan club, the 20-year-old flew to Finland for an operation
which will take place on Tuesday. And on Monday, he was pictured
arriving in a wheelchair.
It is bad news for Barcelona and on Saturday, coach Ernesto Valverde
said: "He is going to be out for some time. It's a shame because he was
just getting into the dynamic of the team. Let's hope he is not out for
too long."
However, his worst fears were subsequently confirmed and Dembele will
be sidelined for between three and four months, missing at least 13
matches in La Liga (including the Clasico away to Real Madrid on
December 23) and the Catalans' remaining five group games in the
Champions League (a trip to Juventus in late November among them).
Dembele could also be out for further fixtures in 2018, with Barca
set to face Levante at home and Real Sociedad away (so often a difficult
match for the Blaugrana) in the first half of January, with the
two-legged last 16 of the Copa del Rey also set to take place between
January 3 and 10.
It is not what Barcelona had in mind for a player who cost €105
million initially in a transfer that could rise to €150m with add-ons
over time. Dembele was one of two targets to replace Neymar after the
Brazilian moved to Paris Saint-Germain in early August, but ultimately
only the France forward was brought in after a move for Liverpool's
Philippe Coutinho broke down and a late swoop for PSG's Angel Di Maria
also failed.
Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar said he was already feeling at home after scoring twice and won a penalty as 10-man PSG trounced Toulouse 6-2 to go top of Ligue 1 on Sunday.
“I already feel at home here,” he told local media. “The team plays in the Brazilian style and this help my integration”
“I love the atmosphere of the Parc des Princes. The fans supported us until the last minute. They made a lot of noise.
“Now I want to adapt quickly… I think I can improve,” The former Barcelona star said.
The 25-year-old left his best until last on Sunday, showing brilliant control, and benefiting from a bit of luck, as he danced around five defenders before planting the ball in the back of the net in stoppage time.
“I do not really remember what happened on my second goal, the most important thing is that it went into the back of the net,” he said.
The world record signing has now scored three goals in two matches for his new club after opening his account on debut against Guingamp last week.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday he has had no contact with Paris Saint-Germain regarding Alexis Sanchez, who will miss the start of the season through injury.
Sanchez, 28, has been linked with a move to PSG, who have just completed a world-record 222 million euros ($260 million) swoop for Barcelona superstar Neymar.
But Wenger said he had not heard from PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and referred to French media reports suggesting PSG are more interested in signing Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe.
“It’s a long time I didn’t speak to Nasser, because it’s certainly very busy to complete the transfer of Neymar,” Wenger told a press conference at Arsenal’s London Colney base.
Asked if he expected Al-Khelaifi to get in touch, Wenger replied: “No, no. I think if you read the French papers, they are on Mbappe’s case to finish their transfer market.”
Wenger was coy, though, when he was asked if any bids had been tabled for Sanchez.
“I can’t tell you that at the moment,” said the Frenchman, whose side open their Premier League campaign at home to Leicester City on Friday.
“I just think we are not open — what I said to you many times — to any offers, anyway.”
Sanchez, who has also been linked with Manchester City, has not played for Arsenal in pre-season after being granted extra time off after playing at the Confederations Cup with Chile.
Wenger said the forward had sustained an abdominal injury and was likely to miss both Friday’s game against Leicester and the trip to Stoke City on August 19.
“He has a little abdominal strain that he caught on Sunday morning in training, before he came to Wembley (for last Sunday’s Community Shield),” Wenger said.
“He had a scan two days ago and he’s out for a while. I don’t know if it is two weeks or one more week, but he will not be available. I think he will not play at Stoke, yes.”
Wenger added: “For us Alexis Sanchez is a loss, of course. But we have all the other players prepared in pre-season and they are all ready.
“It can happen in pre-season and anyway, I don’t think I would have included him on Friday night. I don’t think I would have started him.”
Speaking after Arsenal beat Chelsea on penalties at Wembley, Wenger revealed he was looking to trim his squad before the transfer window closes, but he said no departures were currently imminent.
“No,” he replied when asked if any players were poised to leave.
“Yesterday I had the managers’ meeting and was talking with the other managers in the other clubs. It looks like everywhere there is many, many players and a bit of congestion at the moment everywhere.”
Neymar Sr says his son made the world record €222m move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain out of respect for the Blaugrana talisman, Leo Messi. The 25-year-old Neymar Jr last week moved to the Ligue 1 side on a five-year deal reportedly worth €600,000 (£540,000) per week after tax.
Though many analysts have opined that the Brazillian left the Nou Camp for the money, his father claimed his son left because he did not want to challenge the status of Messi out of respect for his teammate.
Speaking in a COPE report, Neymar Sr said,
“Imagine a place where you are the protagonist of a club, where you are the idol of that club and everyone wants to transform you into the star that you do not want to be.
“Messi is the star and will always be the star. Not only because of the love and respect that Neymar has for Leo, he is his idol. Imagine that everyone said that Neymar has to be Messi’s substitute, he does not want to be his substitute. You have to leave Messi, he is the idol at Barcelona.
“Neymar has to make his own way and accept the challenge he has. I think my son has been a man, shown respect [to Messi] and now he has to go his own way. He could go to any club and be in the spotlight, not that he wants to be number one.
“He is taking a risk. Can PSG guarantee him the Ballon d’Or? No. And it is crazy that people believe that. It would be easier at Barca, with the help of that team.”
Chelsea forward, Eden Hazard, has reached out to Barcelona about replacing Neymar. On Thursday, Neymar completed a world-record €222million to Paris Saint-Germain, breaking up the attacking trio he forged with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Don Balon reports that Hazard is now very keen to replace the Brazilian at the Camp Nou.
Hazard is believed to be one of the players Barca is eyeing. Liverpool playmaker, Philippe Coutinho is a well-documented target, and the Catalans have seen their first bid rejected.
The Catalan club has identified Tottenham’s Dele Alli as another option.
The La Liga giants will likely spend most of their windfall, to prise any of the three Premier League stars from their clubs.
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