Paris Saint-Germain started the new season with their first training session ahead of their pre-season games. All players went through preliminary medical checks and started off the training. However, one key figure at the club was missing. Neymar failed to show up at the Camp des Loges for the clubs first training session.
PSG, in an official statement on their website, said that Neymar was not present at the “agreed place and time” and the club had no prior notice regarding the reason for this absence. The club also claims that appropriate action will be taken against the player. For Neymar, who seems to be wanting a move away from the French capital, to not show up for training could be a way to convey to the club that he wants out and will not engage with the club and its activities.
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However, as per Fox Sports, Neymar’s father claims that the club was aware that Neymar would not be able to return for the clubs first training in time due to prior commitments with Instituto Neymar, a charitable organization set up by Neymar and his family. Neymar’s father goes on to say the following:
"“The reason [for his absence] is known and was scheduled one year ago, with the annual schedule of his institute, and we couldn’t change it. His return will be on the 15th. It’s as simple as that… no controversy. And PSG are aware and are part of the institute’s actions.”"
This may be a cover-up by the Neymar clan in order to force through a move away from Les Rouge et Bleu. If PSG were aware of the player’s late arrival and was a part of the institutions’ activities, they wouldn’t have released an official statement promising to punish the player after he failed to report for the pre-season training. The proposal of heading back to FC Barcelona to once again play alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez would appeal to the Brazilian and the Catalan club seems like the only realistic destination for the 27-year-old.
Neymar won a lot of silverware at PSG but was overshadowed by teammate Kylian Mbappe and failed to help the team to progress in the Champions League being injured and unavailable in crucial matches against Real Madrid and Manchester United in the last two seasons respectively. The disagreement with the club is just going to add fuel to the fire of rumours of Neymar leaving the club with a return to Barca seeming likely to happen. Earlier too, PSG president had made a public statement where he said that no one had forced Neymar to join the club.
Sporting Director Leonardo was given full control of the team’s activities by PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi and this might be the Brazilians way of disciplining his compatriot by showing him that no matter how a big of a superstar the player is, he is not bigger than the club itself. With Barca trying to sign Griezmann too, it seems rather difficult but not impossible for the La Liga champions to sign both the players and may eventually have to choose between the two.
PSG and Neymar seem to be at odds. Will FC Barcelona take advantage of the fact by offering to re-sign Neymar?