Neymar, between the controversy and the responsibility of taking a step forward against Bayern

Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé could be recovered for this Tuesday's clash of the Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich in the Parque de los Príncipes, but the two, who are PSG's most decisive players, would arrive forcing their physique, after dealing in recent days with two separate muscle problems.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
13 February 2023 Monday 19:09
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Neymar, between the controversy and the responsibility of taking a step forward against Bayern

Leo Messi and Kylian Mbappé could be recovered for this Tuesday's clash of the Champions League round of 16 against Bayern Munich in the Parque de los Príncipes, but the two, who are PSG's most decisive players, would arrive forcing their physique, after dealing in recent days with two separate muscle problems. The delicate state of the Frenchman and the Argentinean gives Neymar greater relevance in the Parisian attack against the Bavarians, a responsibility that comes at a delicate moment, the team being harassed by poor results and disagreements within the club.

Neymar, 31, is playing his sixth season in the Parisian team, more than in any other club in his career, but he has not yet shone at the height that he was supposed to or for the price that was paid (222 million). In fact, the Brazilian, with a contract until 2027 and with one of the highest salaries in the world, is being discussed and rumors about him leaving the club next summer are growing again.

The last controversy with the striker as the protagonist occurred in the match last day in Ligue 1 that the Catalans lost against Monaco (3-1), without Mbappé or Messi on the field. Neymar criticized Vitinha and Ekitike for some actions and later, in the locker room, he discussed with Luis Campos. According to L'Équipe, the sports director criticized the attitude of the players throughout the 90 minutes and both the Brazilian and his compatriot Marquinhos rebelled against this accusation. Some information pointed out that a stomach virus would have diminished several players.

Outside the limits of the pitch, Neymar's life in France has almost always been in the eye of the storm, with the footballer constantly criticized for his inclination towards partying. As Le Parisien recently explained, several neighbors of Neymar, who lives in the town of Bougival, have called the police because of the noise that penetrates the walls of his house late at night. Among those affected would be the mayor himself. "It wasn't just a background sound, it was prodigiously annoying," the town's top leader, Luc Wattelle, told the French newspaper.

The Brazilian's journey in the French champion has been dotted at all times with injuries and off-sport controversies that on occasions, much less than expected, have been accompanied by genius on the pitch at decisive moments. Now, the former Barça player has to vindicate himself for the umpteenth time in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, a round that he had missed due to injury several times in his previous years with the team.

PSG has always played in the first tie of the European competition in the last five years and of the 10 games Neymar has only played four in full. In his first year, he missed the return against Real Madrid in Paris, where the whites certified the pass (1-2). In 2019, he was not in the two games against Manchester United either, again with the Parisian debacle, and he was absent again due to physical problems in the round of 16 in 2021 against Barça. Last year, against Madrid once again, he played the last 17 minutes of the first leg in France (1-0) and succumbed at the Bernabeu (3-1). Neymar did play the round of 16 tie against Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a season in which the Parisians reached their only Champions League final, precisely losing to their next rival, Bayern.

Neymar's numbers this season describe a remarkable performance, with 17 goals and 16 assists in 27 games, but those good statistics will be forgotten if he goes unnoticed in the double confrontation against Bayern in the Champions League, undoubtedly the priority competition and even the obsession of a PSG that has spent many millions with the sole objective of raising the first 'orejona' in its history. A pharaonic project that reached another level in 2017 with the arrival of Neymar, still the most expensive signing in football history.

Check the Ligue 1 table.