By Daily Sports on April 18, 2018
Neymar “spat” on Paris Saint-Germain by not returning to the club in time to lift the Ligue 1 trophy last week, former France star Christophe Dugarry has said.
Since breaking a bone in his foot in February, Neymar has been recovering in his native Brazil, and PSG said at the beginning of April that they expected him back within two or three weeks.
But as PSG clinched the French title on Sunday with a 7-1 victory over Monaco, Neymar was still at home and posted a photo of himself playing poker while watching the decisive victory.
And Dugarry, who won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France, took the world's highest-paid player to task for a lack of leadership.
“How come he was not there for the title-winning match? How can he claim to be a leader?” Dugarry said in his role as a pundit on RMC. “Take up an individual sport if you want to navel gaze.
“On top of that, he was playing poker! How can the club accept that? He spat on PSG here.
“How can you shake the hands of your teammates when you behave like that? If I was a PSG supporter, I would be mad with anger.”
Dugarry also said that if Neymar still played for Barcelona, he would have returned in time to lift the trophy in La Liga.
Speaking at a sponsor event in Sao Paulo on Tuesday, Neymar said it was hard not to be with his PSG teammates to celebrate the title.
“It is very bad to see my team score, win a title and I am not able to be there,” he said. “But my health is above this.”
Neymar also said he spends 12 hours a day in physiotherapy and only plays poker while recuperating.
He said he expects to be “available” on May 17, which could allow him to feature in the Coupe de France final against third-tier Les Herbiers, should PSG beat Caen in their semifinal on Wednesday.
The forward also said that while it has been hard to miss a crucial part of the season, the bright side is that he will be well rested when the World Cup begins on June 14.
“I will have enough time to arrive well at the World Cup and be prepared,” Neymar said after arriving using crutches. “It’s terrible to be injured, but I am more tired. We have to look at things from the good side.”
He added: “I’m trying to come back better that I was. There are certain doubts, at times I still feel it [the injury], it was my first surgery. I will come back very well, giving my best.
“From the moment I start training, I will give, I will dedicate myself even more because it’s a dream that’s coming, it’s the World Cup. I’ve waited four years for this opportunity, and now it’s close.” (ESPN)
•Photo shows Neymar
Source Daily Sports
Posted April 18, 2018
You may also like...
Red-Hot Onuachu Scores 15th Goal Of The Season...
Chelsea owner Abramovich splits from 3rd wife
Beterbiev, Koelling fight cancelled
Icardi Makes Permanent Move To PSG
Mass turnout of fans in Kano as Pillars...
Tyron Zeuge, Isaac Ekpo get March 24 rematch...

President’s death forces aquatic federation calendar shake-up
Diamond League announces Amusan for Prefontaine Classic
Chelle receives Agu, Nwaiwu injury boost
Lagos schools gear up for TASG athletics showcase
D’Tigress open W’Cup qualifying campaign with Colombia clash
Onigbide's contributions helped shape Nigeria’s football, NSC mourns ex-Super Eagles coach
Joshua career-earnings per punch recorded at £172k
Onuachu breaks 14-year Trabzonspor goal record
Musa dedicates derby win to Pillars fan
Rivers United’s scoring run thrills Finidi
How Arsenal can win Premier League
NWFL player Ihotu regains freedom after N1.5m ransom
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,606 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,933 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,837 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,464 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,383 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,291 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,165 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,710 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,888 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,403 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,795 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,270 views)