Neymar targets full fitness by World Cup amid unclear PSG future
Brazil forward Neymar aims to get fully fit in time for next month’s World Cup following foot surgery but his future at Paris St. Germain looks rather uncertain.
He was absent from PSG’S Ligue 1 title celebrations in April and was a spectator at the Stade de France on Tuesday when his side beat third tier Les Herbiers 2-0 in the French Cup final to complete a domestic treble, Reuters reported.
Reports in the French and Spanish media say Neymar, who joined the Ligue 1 club from Barcelona for a record €222 million last August, has told PSG directors he wants to quit the club after only one season.
Media reported he now wants to move to Real Madrid, who tried to sign him in 2013 before the Brazilian opted for Barcelona.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported on Friday that the player’s father and agent, Neymar Sr., has told PSG his son wants to leave immediately. The report also said his father met with Madrid directors in December on the same day Cristiano Ronaldo received the Ballon d’or in Paris.
The 26-year-old has been out of action since spraining his ankle and fracturing his fifth metatarsal on February 25, which led him to undergo surgery in Brazil.
The Brazilian had scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists in 30 appearances in all competitions for PSG before his injury.
Compatible duo
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he is not aware of any talks to sign Neymar, while adding that there would be no compatibility issues if the Brazilian did one day play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
Two weeks out from Madrid’s Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev, the issue dominated Friday morning’s news conference at Madrid’s Valdebebas training facility, ESPN FC reported.
Asked directly whether he knew if talks were going on between his club and Neymar’s camp, Zidane said his view was that planning for next season would begin properly once this campaign was over.
“I don’t know if they are negotiating for Neymar,” Zidane said.
“I don’t believe so, as what we care about is what we are doing at the moment. I don’t get into that, it is for others. We must finish this season well, and the rest will be talked about afterwards. There will be changes for sure, but I am not thinking about that now.”
Zidane went on to reject a question claiming that Neymar and Ronaldo could not play together in the same XI.
“Good players are always compatible,” Zidane said. “People said I was not compatible with [former France teammate Youri] Djorkaeff. What nonsense! Together we won the World Cup. On the pitch good players always get on, off the pitch I don’t know, but on the pitch there is always chemistry.”