From drunken nights out to repeated injuries, the Neymar case starts getting them talking in the Parisian ranks. The Brazilian had made a very good start to the season, but an incident that happened a few days before the World Cup in Qatar will hurl the player into turmoil. Linked to the capital club until June 2027, the player recently spoke about his future, and to the amazement of all, Ney would like to retire with Paris Saint Germain!
The Neymar phenomenon in Ligue 1
On 3 August 2017, Nasser El-Khelaifi pulled off a masterstroke as he brought the young prodigy of world football into the capital club. Combined with the salary, at nearly 30 million per year, it sent shockwaves into the football world for a transfer fee of 220 million euros. The ex-Blaugrana immediately became the new darling of the Parc des Princes, as jerseys with the number 10 have sold like hotcakes. On the financial side, the bet had already been won for the Parisian leaders, with more than 400 million in profits made in 2017 alone. On the sports side, some detractors were waiting for the new star to turn the corner. But it didn’t take them long to understand what the Brazilian was made of. The talented kid from Santos splashed the championship with his talent and silenced the critics thanks to high-flying performances from his game.
Fall and get up again
Unfortunately, the story was too good to last forever. After a few successful seasons on the sporting front, Ney’s motivation seemed to decline gradually. Frustrated with the Parisian club’s poor results in the Champions League, the player began to desert the training grounds for famous Parisian nightclubs. A lifestyle is hard to combine with his football career and one that quite logically led him to a series of repeated injuries. In an interview, Mbappé insisted on eating well and sleeping well before the matches. Was Dr. Kylian targeting someone in particular? Each will have his opinion.
After having seen ups and especially many downs, the Brazilian nevertheless managed to get back on track. Neymar Jr. surprised everyone a few months before the World Cup in Qatar and had a thunderous start to the season. While he was in the best predisposition to play in the World Cup, fate was merciless again and again. Neymar sprained his ankle during a group match and had to leave the national team temporarily to undergo an operation. Thanks to the work of the doctors of the Auriverde team, he would regain his place in the round of 16 against South Korea. Everyone knows the rest: Brazil did not have realism and stumbled in the last four against Croatia. It was a terrible disappointment for the native of Mogi das Cruzes, who was probably participating in his last World Cup. Deeply affected by his heart, Ney struggled to find his level, and his performance has been very average since then. Some would even want him to leave because his total indifference is a disservice to the Parisian group. He broke his ankle against Lille and has been out for four months. It was the end of a catastrophic season for the Brazilian, who could do nothing to help PSG avoid sinking into the Champions League. Galtier’s players will be able to console themselves with a Ligue 1 champion title that seems certain for them.
Despite the setbacks he experienced, the Brazilian is not throwing in the towel. He recently stated that he wants to end his career at PSG. Of course, this news can grate on some people’s nerves, but let’s not forget that Neymar is still in the top 10 of the best strikers in the world and that it would be a pity if PSG deprived itself of it. If the player wants to redeem himself, some time will have to pass before he manages to find a place in the hearts of Parisian supporters.
