Tag: Neymar

  • Neymar clearly wanted Barcelona return, says Filipe Luis

    Neymar clearly wanted to return to Barcelona over the summer, says fellow Brazilian Filipe Luis, with a domination of transfer gossip columns making it apparent what his future preference was.

    The 27-year-old forward spent an entire window being linked with moves away from Paris Saint-Germain.

    Various landing spots were mooted, but it quickly became clear that the South American was only interested in retracing his steps to Camp Nou.

    No deal was done, with the deadline passing without PSG lowering their demands, and Neymar must now make peace with the fact that he has bridges to build in France.

    Quizzed by Marca on whether he feels a move was being pushed for, Filipe Luis said, “I don’t know. I want to believe he did, because if he didn’t then his name wouldn’t have been heard every day for two months.

    “But leaving Paris Saint-Germain isn’t easy because they don’t usually sell.

    “I see him as being calm since saying he’d stay. He can develop at PSG. They also have (Kylian) Mbappe, (Mauro) Icardi and (Edinson) Cavani. It’s important that they win something.”

  • Neymar can leave PSG if we get an offer – Leonardo

    Paris St Germain sporting director Leonardo says Neymar is free to leave the French champions, but there have been no offers for him and only “superficial” talks with his former club Barcelona.
    The Brazilian forward joined PSG from Barcelona on a five-year deal for a world record transfer fee of 222 million euros (£199 million) in 2017.
    “Neymar can leave PSG if there is an offer that suits everyone.
    “But to date, we do not know if anyone wants to buy him or at what price
    “All this is not done in a day, that’s for sure,’’ Leonardo told Le Parisien.
    ““It’s clear to everyone (that he wants to leave), but in football, you say one thing today and tomorrow another.
    “It’s amazing but it’s like that.
    “We talked with his entourage too.
    “Everyone knows everything.
    “The position is clear for all participants.
    “But one thing is concrete today: he still has three years of contract with us and since we have not received an offer, we cannot discuss anything.’’
    Barcelona, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said last week that Neymar wanted to return to Spain, but that PSG was reluctant to sell him.
    “We have not received any offers,’’ Leonardo added.
    “But we have had, it’s true, very superficial contacts (with Barcelona).
    “They said they wanted to buy but we are not sellers.
    “He’s (Bartomeu) the one saying it… But we did not see that Barcelona was really in a buyer position.’’
    Paris St Germain said on Monday they would take action against the Brazilian forward after he failed to report for training.

  • Neymar’s three-game European ban upheld

    Neymar’s three-game European ban upheld

    Neymar’s three-match European ban has been upheld after Uefa rejected an appeal by his club Paris St-Germain.

    The PSG forward, 27, was charged with insulting match officials after their Champions League exit at home to Manchester United on 6 March.

    Neymar described as “a disgrace” the award of a decisive 94th-minute United penalty in their last-16 second leg match.

    He also wrote in an Instagram post that the penalty “doesn’t exist”.

    Neymar will now miss half of next season’s Champions League group stage.

    The forward was injured with a broken metatarsal and missed both legs of the European knockout tie – which United won as a result of the penalty converted by Marcus Rashford.

    Referee Damir Skomina reviewed footage of a Diogo Dalot shot striking the hand of PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe before awarding the visitors the injury-time spot-kick, having initially given a corner.

    The penalty ensured a 3-1 win in Paris for United, who went through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.

    Neymar wrote: “It’s a disgrace. Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television.

    “What can he do with his hand while his back is turned?”

    BBC

  • Tax dispute: Brazil authorities seizes Neymar’s mansions, other properties

    Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Neymar’s off-pitch woes continue to mount, as Brazilian tax authorities put a freeze on dozens of his mansions and other properties amid a long-running tax dispute.

    A local Brazilian media outlet, Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, reported on Monday that Brazilian authorities blocked 36 properties in Brazil as they seek 69 million reais (£14 million) in back taxes.

    They claim that amount is due in connection with Neymar’s 2013 transfer from Santos to FC Barcelona.

    The action means Neymar can use the properties but not sell them.

    Folha cited an unspecified court ruling as approving the action by Brazil tax authorities.

    It was not immediately possible to locate the ruling.

    Brazil’s tax agency did not respond to a request for comment.

    Also, a spokeswoman for Neymar did not have any comment.

    In addition to his tax fight, Neymar in recent weeks has been accused of rape, an allegation that Brazilian police are investigating.

    A Brazilian woman accused the 27-year-old Neymar of raping her at a Paris hotel last month.

    He denies the allegation and says the relationship was consensual.

    On Sunday, a report in L’Equipe said PSG were prepared to sell Neymar, as chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi warned that irresponsible behaviour from players won’t be tolerated anymore.

  • Copa America: Brazil finally names Neymar’s replacement

    Copa America: Brazil finally names Neymar’s replacement

    Brazil has finally named the player that will replace injured Paris Saint-Germain star, Neymar at the upcoming 2019 Copa America.

    Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s 2019 Copa America campaign, after rupturing ankle ligaments in a friendly against Qatar few days ago.

    According to Liverpool Echo, Brazil has now called up Chelsea’s Willian to replace Neymar.

    Willian was not included in Brazil coach, Tite’s initial 23-man squad released last month.

    Brazil host the Copa America between June 14 and July 7, kicking off against Bolivia before facing Venezuela and Peru, respectively

  • Injured Neymar to miss Copa America

    Neymar will miss the 2019 Copa America on home soil after rupturing a ligament in his ankle during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Qatar in Brasilia.

    The Paris St-Germain forward, 27, who was stripped of the Brazilian captaincy in May, limped off after 17 minutes.

    Everton’s Richarlison had put the hosts ahead after 16 minutes and Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus added a second eight minutes later.

    The 12-team Copa America tournament starts on Friday, 14 June.

    Neymar was taken to hospital for a scan after being helped off the pitch by members of the Brazil support staff, having appeared to twist his ankle.

    Brazil coach Tite, who on Monday described the forward as “indispensable” but not “irreplaceable” in the team, initially believed the injury would not be “very serious”.

    Neymar, who joined PSG from Barcelona for a world record 222m euros in August 2017, missed three months between January and April earlier this year after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot.

    He also missed three months following surgery on the same injury in 2018, returning just in time to play in the World Cup.

  • Brazil star Neymar denies rape accusation

    Brazil star Neymar denies rape accusation

    Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has denied he raped a woman he met on Instagram and insisted he is the victim of attempted blackmail.

    Reuters and Associated Press say they have seen a document filed in Sao Paulo alleging the footballer drunkenly assaulted his accuser at a hotel in Paris, where he plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

    The former Barcelona player, who signed for PSG for a world record £198m, is alleged to have met the woman after they exchanged messages on the social media site.

    His assistant is said to have sent the woman plane tickets on 15 May and the pair checked in to a hotel.

    According to the claims in the police report, after Neymar and the woman “caressed” the footballer became “aggressive”, then used “violence” and “practised sexual intercourse against the will of the victim”.

    The player posted a seven-minute video on Instagram on Sunday in which he denied the accusation and insisted it was “a set-up”.

    “Anyone who knows me, knows of my behaviour, knows that I would never do something like that,” he said.

    The video included intimate images and WhatsApp messages he says he exchanged with the accuser in a friendly way days later.

    “There was a relationship between a man and a woman between four walls,” he said, adding that “the next day nothing happened”.

    “I hope investigators read the messages and see what happened,” said the striker.

    A statement issued by Neymar’s management on his website said the 27-year-old forward completely repudiated the allegations and that he was a victim of blackmail.

    “Although he was surprised by the news, the facts were already known to the player and his staff, considering that a few days ago he was the victim of an attempted extortion, practised by a lawyer from Sao Paulo who said he represented the interests of the alleged victim,” it said.

    “The player’s lawyers were immediately notified and have since taken all appropriate steps.

    “We completely repudiate the unjust accusations and, above all, the exposure in the press of an extremely negative situation.

    “All evidence of attempted extortion and non-rape will be submitted to the police authorities in a timely manner.”

    The woman told police about the incident when she returned home to Brazil, saying she did not report it in Paris because she was “emotionally shaken and afraid to register the facts in another country”.

    Earlier, Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, said his son had consensual sexual relations with the accuser and was blackmailed by her lawyer after they broke up.

    He said his son was innocent, but said the family were going through a “tough” time.

    PSG have not commented on the allegation, nor has the hotel where it is said to have taken place.

    Neymar is currently in Brazil, training with the national team ahead of the Copa America tournament this month.

     

  • UEFA handed three-match ban to Neymar for x-rated rant on officials

    Paris Saint-Germain forward, Neymar, has been banned from participating in three European matches after insulting the referees who officiated his club’s exit to Manchester United at the rounds-of-16 of the UEFA Champions League in March.

    It could be recalled that Neymar lashed out at referee Damir Skomina after he adjudged Presnel Kimpembe to have handled the ball in the area, after consulting Video Assistant Referees (VAR).

    Marcus Rashford went on to score the penalty to make the result 3-1 in favour of Manchester United.

    Neymar further took to his social media page and wrote: “This is a disgrace, they put four people that know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR.

    “There is no penalty.

    “How can it be a handball when it hits his back! Go f**k yourselves!.”

    The UEFA Disciplinary Committee’s ruling means Neymar will miss three of the matches in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League next season.

  • UEFA begins disciplinary probe of Neymar

    Brazil striker Neymar is facing sanctions from European football body UEFA over remarks he made following the elimination of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) from the UEFA Champions League.

    UEFA, on Wednesday, said a disciplinary investigation has started after the PSG forward criticised in an Instagram post the officiating of the defeat to Manchester United.

    The English Premier League (EPL) side scored a late penalty kick, awarded following a video review, for a 3-1 win to tie the last 16 encounter.

    It thus helped them to advance on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate.

    Neymar, who is currently sidelined with a foot injury, had watched the game from the stands.

    “It’s a disgrace,’’ Neymar had said in his Instagram post in Portuguese.

  • UCL: Man Utd penalty was a disgrace, says Neymar

    The decision to award Manchester United a penalty in the 94th minute of their win over Paris St-Germain in the Champions League was a “disgrace”, says the French club’s forward Neymar.

    The 27-year-old raged about the call, made after using VAR, on social media as United reached the quarter-finals.

    Marcus Rashford’s goal earned a 3-1 win and United went through on away goals after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.

    But Brazilian striker Neymar said the penalty “doesn’t exist”.

    He added: “It’s a disgrace. Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television.

    “What can [Kimpembe] do with his hand while his back is turned?” asked the former Barcelona player, who missed both legs through injury.

    The penalty was awarded after referee Damir Skomina had initially given United a corner after Diogo Dalot’s shot struck Presnel Kimpembe and went over the crossbar.

    Skomina received a signal to check the incident again for a possible handball in the box and after watching a pitchside monitor, changed his decision.