Blow for PSG as Neymar opts for surgery on metatarsal

NEYMAR’S season is over and the Paris SaintGermain striker is already in his homeland ahead of an operation that will rule him out for around three months.

The 26-year-old fractured a metatarsal during last Sunday’s Ligue 1 win over Marseille.

Neymar joined PSG for a worldrecord fee of €222m (£200m) from Barcelona last August and has scored 29 goals in 30 games for the French champions.

Initially, PSG were hoping to patch up Neymar so he could play in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid in Paris next Wednesday, with the French champions trailing 3-1 from the first leg.

However, the Brazil ace decided on a surgical fix in an effort for him to be fit for the World Cup finals in June.

When Paris Saint-Germain went out and shattered the world transfer record by activating Neymar’s release clause, it was clear that the Brazilian was going to be the biggest show in town.

IRRITANT

But that show has become an irritant for Neymar’s team-mates, who are now utterly tired of being asked about him.

“Neymar again?!” asked young defender Presnel Kimpembe as another question arrived about the £200m man.

“Neymar here, Neymar there... I don’t know what to say anymore, that’s the truth,” added Kimpembe.

“If he misses the game, he misses the game and that’s that. The coach will pick other players.

“It hurts that he might not be able to make it and we know that he’s an important player for the team. We’re all hurt and we will try to qualify for him, but the team comes first.”

Neymar, who earned more than €36m from football alone last year, is more valued in Brazil.

With 53 goals in 83 matches since making his full international debut at age 18, he is their fourthhighest goalscorer and captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s football at the 2016 Summer Olympics.