Reports of problems for the world's most expensive footballer in Paris come just as Real Madrid appear in need of a new superstar
The impact of Neymar’s world record €222m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain was seismic.
Barcelona were raided for their second-biggest star and in an instant the PSG ‘project’ became the biggest sporting story in the world.
Neymar - already rich beyond his wildest dreams - was made richer still by the mindboggling contract put in front of him by the club’s Qatari owners.
Reportedly against the wishes of his father and adviser, Neymar was persuaded to strike out alone and step from the shadow of Lionel Messi. His talent is such that he is worthy of becoming the best player in the world someday but that was never going to happen so long as he was servicing Messi.
PSG would give him a platform to become the most famous footballer and – perhaps – most famous sportsman on the planet.
Twenty-four goals in 23 appearances with PSG cruising in Ligue 1 and the Champions League would suggest that the Neymar experiment is so far going well.
There are however a number of factors at play which could mean his Parisian adventure is cut short. And looming in the background is his seemingly inevitable marriage to Real Madrid.
A watershed 8-0 win against Dijon last week might well go down as the most important game in Neymar’s PSG career so far and not simply because he scored four goals and assisted two more.
Having already been involved in a penalty spat with Edinson Cavani earlier in the season, Neymar declined the Uruguayan the chance to break Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal scoring record from the spot.
He preferred to take it himself and the move did not go down well with the club’s supporters. Neymar was whistled and jeered by the crowd as he prepared to shoot with chants of “Cavani! Cavani!” ringing in his ears.
It was later claimed that Neymar had no idea that his strike partner was one goal away from the record and the scale of the backlash is believed to have stung him badly.
