Pundit Claims Neymar Must Take Over No. 9 Role or Ride Bench at PSG

The drama over the striker situation at Paris Saint-Germain continues to be a topic of discussion as Kylian Mbappé has expressed his desire not to play the position. As a result, pundits are weighing in on what the capital club should do to solve the situation.

On Tuesday’s edition of After Foot RMC (h/t Foot Mercato), French football pundit Rolland Courbis stated that Mbappé shouldn’t be playing the role and that it’s Neymar Jr.’s responsibility to take the position. 

Furthermore, Courbis added that if the 30-year-old doesn’t want to take over the part, then the Brazil international should ride the bench. 

“If Galtier is to solve the problem of the three monsters, it is Neymar who must play the role of number 9, not Mbappé,” Courbis said. “And you (Neymar) go on the bench if you don’t want to play pivot. Be already happy to be there. Obviously, I’m harder on Neymar. If I were PSG, I wouldn’t have a short memory. This Neymar is unbearable. There is the World Cup. 

“He must be focused, serious, and will soon find himself behind Donnarumma to defend. But don’t take people for dumber than they are. This Neymar is unbearable: you play number 9 or you clear. I am more for Mbappé than for Neymar, more for Messi than for Neymar. If the supporters have a short memory of what Neymar hasn’t done for five years, too bad for them.”

It will be interesting to see what manager Christophe Galtier opts to do to solve the problem, and eyes will be on sporting advisor Luis Campos to bring in another player during the January transfer window to occupy that space. 

Nonetheless, the issue will linger and not go quietly until at least a few months from now.