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Tag: Neymar

  • UCL: Easier facing PSG without Neymar – De Jong

    UCL: Easier facing PSG without Neymar – De Jong

    Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong insists they face PSG with optimism.

    De Jong knows that Barcelona face an uphill battle as they try to overturn their 4-1 first leg deficit against their Champions League round 16 opponents, but he believes the continued injury absence of Neymar helps the Catalan club out.

    The Brazilian won’t be able to face his former club due to his continue injury issues.

    “For me, he is one of the best in the world,” De Jong said in a pre-match press conference as he spoke about Neymar.

    “When he’s not there, it’s better or easier for us. I don’t know how to put it. But, without Neymar on the other side, it’s easier.”

    Asked about the tie as a whole and the likelihood of Barcelona achieving another comeback against the Parisians, four years and two days after the famous 2017 one, De Jong said this was the clear objective.

    “I don’t know if the 4-1 result from the first leg was fair, but we played poorly and we’re going in to this game to try to present a good image and to try to compete,” he said.

    “You always have to believe a comeback is possible, but we need to show it tomorrow on the pitch.

    “We’re always united and we’re achieving some good results of late. The unity was seen in the Sevilla matches. We’re going to Paris to try to win and compete.

    “We’re training well and, personally, I feel good, which is important. I want to keep this up as I’m happy.”

  • UCL: Neymar to miss 2nd leg clash against Barca

    UCL: Neymar to miss 2nd leg clash against Barca

    Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Neymar will not face former club Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday after deciding to take no risks with the Brazilian’s fitness as he works his way back from an adductor injury.

    The 29-year-old forward has been out of action since picking up a knock in a French Cup clash with Caen on February 10.

    It had been suggested that a return to action could be made against Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, as he is back in light training, but Mauricio Pochettino will not be calling upon the South American at Parc des Princes.

    PSG have stated in a team news update ahead of the meeting with Barcelona: “Sergio Rico is not participating in training this morning for personal reasons.

    “Neymar JR resumed partial training with the squad last week and will continue his individual recovery work. A new assessment will be made in the coming days.

    “Juan Bernat continues his rehabilitation and his personal recovery.

    “Moise Kean is still in isolation due to Covid-19.”

    Goal

  • Neymar commits future to PSG amidst Barcelona woes

    Neymar commits future to PSG amidst Barcelona woes

    Neymar has pledged his future to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), declaring that he is now ‘truly happy’ at Parc des Princes and effectively ruling out a return to former club Barcelona.

    Previously, Neymar was keen on a return to Barcelona as the Spanish club tried to sign him but failed.

    Then, reports were rife that Neymar regretted his decision to leave PSG and wanted to reunite with Lionel Messi.

    Neymar was even alleged to have ‘cried’ when he found out that the move wouldn’t happen.

    There were also claims at the time that Barca ‘were not putting all of their weight into the transfer’, knowing that they didn’t have the resources to actually go through with it.

    “I am happy today. I am truly happy,” Neymar told French broadcaster TF1.

    “Things have changed a lot. I can’t exactly explain why. But today, I am feeling good. I have adapted. I am calmer and I am happier.

    “I want to stay at PSG. I also want Kylian [Mbappe] to stay. We want PSG to be a great team. I want to continue to play football and be happy, that is the most important thing.”

  • EPL: Almiron scores after 20 seconds as Newcastle whip West Brom

    EPL: Almiron scores after 20 seconds as Newcastle whip West Brom

    Miguel Almiron scored in 20 seconds as Newcastle returned from their coronavirus hiatus to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1, while under-fire Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prepared for a crucial derby against Manchester City on Saturday.

    Playing for the first time since their match against Aston Villa was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in their squad, Newcastle took less than a minute to grab the lead when Almiron swept his shot past West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone.

    West Brom drew level five minutes into the second half at St James’ Park.

    Matt Phillips delivered a low cross which was met by defender Darnell Furlong, who lashed an unstoppable low shot past Karl Darlow.

    Newcastle clinched the points in the 82nd minute when Dwight Gayle met a superb cross by fellow substitute Jacob Murphy to head past Johnstone.

    Newcastle’s second successive victory lifted the gloom from their virus issues, but struggling West Brom stay second bottom.

    Anwar El Ghazi’s last-gasp penalty fired 10-man Aston Villa to a dramatic 1-0 win against Wolves.

    Villa had Douglas Luiz sent off in the final minutes for two bookings after the Brazilian midfielder caught Daniel Podence with an elbow.

    But Nelson Semedo’s stoppage-time foul on John McGinn triggered El Ghazi’s penalty before Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho was dismissed for a second yellow card just moments from full-time in a fractious local derby.

    After two successive defeats, Villa will hope they are back on track with just their second win in six games.

    Villa have won four of their five away league matches this season, while mid-table Wolves have only one win in their last five games.

  • Neymar cools Barca return talk

    Neymar cools Barca return talk

    PSG star Neymar insists he’s never considered leaving the club.

    Neymar continues to be linked with a return to Barcelona.

    But he says: “I am very happy here in Paris.

    “I am very happy at the club, with my teammates. The idea of leaving does not cross my mind.

    “We need to talk. We have a very good relationship, I am very happy at Paris Saint-Germain.”

  • Laporta dismisses Neymar urging Messi to make PSG move

    Laporta dismisses Neymar urging Messi to make PSG move

    Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta insists he’s unconcerned over comments made by PSG star Neymar last night.

    After victory at Champions League opponents Manchester United, Neymar declared he wanted to play again with former Barca teammate Lionel Messi, hinting he wants the Argentine to join him in Paris.

    Neymar stated: “I would like to play with Messi again. This is what I want the most. I would let him play for me, there is no problem. I want to play with him again, for sure. We have to do it next season.”

    In response, Laporta declared: “I’m not worried about his words. I have things to say but I will not say it so as not to destabilise the team. The team will go further, we must not destabilise the team. I know what can destabilise the team. I will not enter this match and will not give the names of the players who can come.

    “It is normal that he says this, they are friends and have an established hierarchy between them. This relationship is normal. I hope Leo can wait and listen to the proposal of the new Barcelona president.”

  • Barca won’t re-sign Neymar if I’m president – Freixa

    Barca won’t re-sign Neymar if I’m president – Freixa

    Barcelona presidential candidate Toni Freixa has ruled out bringing Neymar back to the club.

    Before his resignation, former president Josep Maria Bartomeu had explored re-signing Neymar from PSG this year.

    But Freixa has made it clear there’d be no place for the Brazil captain at Barca should he win the January 24 election.

    “Neymar, due to his performance, is not even among the 30 best players in Europe right now. If I were president, I would not sign him,” he said.

    Freixa also insists Ronald Koeman will remain as coach in his administration.

  • UCL: Neymar penalty eases pressure Thomas Tuchel

    UCL: Neymar penalty eases pressure Thomas Tuchel

    Neymar’s first-half penalty helped ease the pressure on boss Thomas Tuchel as Paris-St Germain leapfrogged RB Leipzig in Group H of the Champions League.

    The Brazilian scored his first goal in six matches in the competition after Angel di Maria had been fouled.

    Julian Nagelsmann’s side rallied but some wasteful finishing prevented them from equalising.

    Leipzig drop to third in the group and are three points behind leaders Manchester United with two games left.

    The German club, who travel to Istanbul Basaksehir in their next fixture, were unfortunate losers to the side that knocked them out in last term’s semi-final.

    Dayot Upamecano, Emil Forsberg and Marcel Sabitzer all went close to levelling the scores in an open contest that they grew into.

    The only bright spot for the hosts, aside from Neymar’s goal, was the return of influential Italy midfielder Marco Verratti, who came on in the 83rd minute after a six-week injury lay-off.

    Tuchel’s side face group leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford in their next group game.

    BBC

  • Neymar to Ramos: Mbappe and I will renew if you sign for PSG

    Neymar to Ramos: Mbappe and I will renew if you sign for PSG

    Kylian Mbappe is prepared to sign a new contract and stay with PSG – if Sergio Ramos arrives from Real Madrid.

    That’s according to Spanish pundit Alfredo Duro, when speaking on El Chiringuito.

    PSG are prepared to offer Ramos a three-year contract worth €60m to convince him to leave Madrid. Duro says PSG captain Neymar has called Ramos to encourage him to make the move to Paris.

    He revealed the subject of the call, “Sergio, if you sign for PSG, let you know that I will renew for PSG the next day, but after me, something else will happen … another will renew, Kylian Mbappé will renew.

    “If you join PSG, we will win at least two European Cups.”

    Ramos’ contract at Real Madrid expires in June.

  • Neymar to sue Barca over unpaid bonuses

    Neymar to sue Barca over unpaid bonuses

    Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar is prepared to sue former club Barcelona for a total of €60m over bonuses which the Brazilian claims not to have received.

    The 28-year-old joined the Blaugrana back in 2013 but shocked the world when he decided to leave Camp Nou after only four years. Neymar became unsettled in Catalonia and paid his own buy-out clause in order to force a move to French giants PSG in 2017.

    But Cadena Ser reports that the superstar is not finished with Barca just yet.

    Neymar is demanding that the European heavyweights pay him the rest of a signing bonus which he feels he is owed, after putting pen to paper on a new contract prior to leaving the club. He has since stated this intention in writing, while his ex-club have impugned the claim.

    The Brazil international is subsequently suing Barça for a further €43.65m, as his previous employers had originally paid him the first installment of €22m before he joined PSG. La Blaugrana argued that they did not need to stump up the rest of his bonus due to his decision to depart Camp Nou, and an initial court hearing sided with the club and ruled against Neymar.

    However, that is not the end of this debacle. The former Santos star’s legal team appealed this decision on 4 August, and by 7 September Barça had contested this new approach.

    The court believed that the renewal bonus was part of the player’s salary, and based on the amount of time that Neymar was at the club, he was obliged to pay back €6.7m euros to the former Spanish champions. Unsurprisingly, this has not gone down well in Paris.