The leak came hours before kickoff between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid was confirmed just moments ago. Neymar Jr. will not start at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking to RMC Sport (via Get French Football News), journalist Isabela Pagilari reported that Neymar is not happy with manager Thomas Tuchel’s decision to leave him out of the squad:
Brazilian journalist Isabela Pagilari on Neymar’s omission from PSG’s XI vs Real Madrid tonight: “He is pissed off, that’s absolutely certain. There is going to be a problem in the dressing room.” (RMC)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) November 26, 2019
Anyone with a brain could have seen this coming. Neymar, who recently returned from a hamstring injury and played 65 minutes against Lille OSC last Friday, should be starting against Real Madrid but the manager has made a bold decision to leave the Brazilian on the bench.
After all the turmoil last summer regarding his failed transfer to FC Barcelona and the fact the match is being played in Spain where the tabloids are relentless, I’m not sure why Neymar isn’t starting. Some speculate he’s not 100 percent fit, but Marco Verratti is in the starting lineup and he’s coming off a knee injury and didn’t play at all against Lille. The entire situation doesn’t make much sense to me.
Now, Tuchel has ignited a fire that he will have to put out post-match and for the rest of the season. For me, it was a completely unnecessary decision in a match that in the grand scheme of things, doesn’t matter that much to PSG.
We’re moments away from kickoff so make sure to follow our coverage on Twitter @PSGTalk.
UPDATE: If Neymar is upset, he has a funny way of showing it:
As pointed out by @CulturePSG, Neymar doesn’t look pissed off. pic.twitter.com/2n5OVZvbX2
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) November 26, 2019
Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG Talking, The 1970, and 24th & Parc.
