On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain battled back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Montpellier 3-1 at the Stade de la Mosson. After the match, there were some fireworks between Neymar Jr. and Andy Delort.
Ca été chaud dans les couloirs de la Mosson entre @neymarjr et @AndyDelort9, juste après la victoire du @PSG_inside à @MontpellierHSC ⛈️#JourDeFoot #MHSCPSG pic.twitter.com/QRxtjZJH3L
— Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) December 7, 2019
In case you’re unable to view the video due to your location, it shows an altercation between the two players in the tunnel right after the match ended. The heated conversation went like this:
Delort: Ney, it’s not good, respect a little!
Neymar: Why respect? Why?
Delort: Respect in front of everyone.
Neymar: I respect all the time, brother.
Delort: I respect you, respect everyone.
Neymar: I respect, I respect.
In the mixed zone, Delort explained his comments to the media (via Goal).
“Neymar? He’s a great player. But it’s a real shame that towards the end he felt the need to antagonize everyone.”
“It’s a shame, he’s a great player, everyone respects him. But you don’t have to tease your opponents, you won 3-1, that’s good, that’s what I said to him.”
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s the little stuff that makes you feel bad in the dressing room.”
“When we spoke he said to me that he does have respect for us, but it was already done. That’s not respect for me.”
“You have to show respect, a good education. His attitude is well known since he came to France.”
I went back to the broadcast of the match and I didn’t see anything that could be deemed as disrespectful from Neymar. The only thing that Delort may have taken issue with was Neymar’s celebration after he scored off a free-kick.
Neymar celebrated his goal against FC Nantes last Wednesday in the same fashion but according to Culture PSG, the gesture is not towards PSG supporters who did jeer him at the Parc des Princes and if it’s not directed to those overtly booing him, I doubt Neymar was celebrating that way as a dig at Montpellier or their fans.
If I’m being honest though, if Neymar wanted to go full-on Randy Moss after his goal I would completely understand. Neymar was kicked, shoved, elbowed, and even choke-slammed by Montpellier goons all night. If Neymar showed some disrespect, and I remain dubious, let’s just call it even.
Delort is no stranger to controversy. In 2018, he was arrested for allegedly insulting a police officer after being involved in a car chase according to Midi Libre (via Get French Football News).
“I don’t give a ****, I earn €150K a month,” Delort allegedly said to the officers.
Maybe Neymar should have just responded to Delort’s claims of disrespect by shouting that he makes €700K per week (per SillySeason.com).
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