Neymar
PSG have confirmed Neymar has injured the same metatarsal in his right foot that led to him nearly missing the World Cup last summer, making him a major doubt for next month’s Champions League clash with Manchester United.
The world’s most expensive player hobbled off after an hour in the French Cup win over Strasbourg, leaving manager Thomas Tuchel furious with the referee for not protecting his player. Neymar’s injury though was rather innocuous as he went down without being touched.
However, Strasbourg manager Thierry Laurey and two of his players have criticisied Neymar’s showboating by deeming it disrespectful to them on the pitch before claiming that his style of play can lead to him being on the end of some heavy treatment.
The incident that caused the injury saw Neymar go down without being challenged but the forward had been on the end of rough treatment throughout the match on Wednesday.
Strasbourg midfielder Anthony Goncalves, who left a mark on Neymar with a brash challenge of his own, expressed no sympathy and even suggested it was a response to Neymar’s showboating towards his team.
“It’s his style. But if you play like that don’t complain if you take some knocks after,” Goncalves told Eurosport. “He’s a great player, and I respect the player he is, but we’re not here so he has fun at our expense. We’re not here to make him look good.”
Tuchel now faces an anxious wait as the extent of Neymar’s injury is determined. A PSG statement in the early hours of Thursday said that Neymar’s treatment will depend on how his foot heals in the coming days.
PSG travels to play Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match on February 12 and are already sweating on the fitness of key midfielder Marco Verratti after he sprained his ankle last weekend.
“Neymar is worried, because it’s the same foot, the right foot, in the same area,” Tuchel said. “There’s no news for the moment, he’s gone to hospital. I need to wait for the doctor to give me news about Ney.”
“The referee didn’t whistle on one occasion, then two, then three and after that he ended up twisting his foot,” Tuchel said.
Television images showed Neymar rolling off his sock and pointing to the side of his right foot, which he also fractured nearly exactly one year ago while playing in the French league against Marseille.
The Brazil forward had just received the ball on the left when he raised his hand to seemingly signal to Tuchel he was in pain, and looked to be in tears as he left the field at the Parc des Princes. – MailOnline
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS