Where to now for Neymar?
BRAZILIAN icon Neymar faces a testing time of his career.
Prior to the 2018 World Cup, many football fans felt that the Brazil national team was a bit too over-reliant on the former Santos star.
However, Tite’s side prevailed during the Copa America tournament this month without the presence of the 27-year-old.
This more or less proved that they can do without him and some would argue that his ego is worth doing without. After years of underachievement, the future of Brazilian football looks bright with attacking stars such as Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus and Everton still in the early phases of their careers.
Neymar is currently in the midst of a fallout with PSG, with reports linking him with a sensational return to former club Barcelona.
He joined the Paris giants two years ago for a fee of €222 million. Rumour had it that he made the move as it would allow him to be the main player at the Parc des Princes, something which he could not do at Barcelona due to the presence of Lionel Messi.
This is not the only controversy that he has experienced during recent weeks. He was accused of rape by model Najila Trindade.
As expected, PSG have dominated French football since the arrival of Neymar and won five major trophies. However, the Champions League trophy is something that has continued to elude them just like how it has eluded fellow heavy spenders Manchester City.
They also suffered a humiliating defeat during the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition last season when they were eliminated by an average Manchester United side.
Neymar was the poster boy of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup campaign and many touted him to go on and break the domination which Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had over the Ballon d’Or award. That did not happen and instead it went to Luka Modric, with Neymar yet to win the award.
Nobody can deny that Neymar is one of the most naturally gifted players of the modern generation but he clearly will need to get his act together if he wants to achieve his true potential.
Had he been more of a team player and less self-absorbed, he could have had more admirers as a person and also won more individual accolades.