PSG are prepared to sell Neymar due to fitness concerns, the stunning rise of team-mate Kylian Mbappe – and his insistence on partying while injured, reports in France claim.
French outlet L’Equipe have made the revelation – citing the three reasons PSG are happy to offload the record-breaking £198million star.
PSG president Nasser Al’Khelaifi vowed to eliminate “celebrity behaviour” at the club.
And with interest from Real Madrid and former club Barcelona – now could be the time to cash in on the injury-hit striker.
Here are the reasons the French champions are open to selling Neymar for the right price.
In March the 27-year-old returned to Brazil while recovering from a foot injury that caused him to miss his side’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash against Manchester United.
As United turned around a first-leg 2-0 defeat to knock the French champions out of Europe – Neymar was partying in Rio with pop sensation Anitta.
The forward was pictured kissing the singer at the Rio Carnival and enjoying party season in his homeland.
Neymar returned to Paris for the game but was encouraged to travel back and forth to Brazil, which left PSG chiefs questioning his investment in the club.
He has also been able to link up with sister Rafaella Beckran on her birthday for the past four years because he has either been injured or suspended.
Neymar has also been involved in a number of dressing room bust-ups with PSG team-mates, including starlet Mbappe.
After PSG’s French Cup final defeat to Rennes, Neymar launched into a tirade against his more youthful team-mates for failing to live up to their hype on the pitch.
Mbappe, 20, naturally considered himself among the “young players” his colleague took aim at, especially after his red card in the shock loss.
Injuries also derailed his season and forced him to miss 22 games as PSG lifted the Ligue One trophy but missed out on the cup after losing to Rennais in the final.
Neymar now faces a fresh injury battle after he ruptured ankle ligaments playing for Brazil against Qatar – forcing him out of the Copa America.
A right ankle injury also forced him out of PSG’s last 16 second leg loss to Real Madrid last season – leaving club bosses fuming after failing to progress in Europe.
The Brazilian superstar has struggled to live up to his billing since his world record £198m move from Barcelona in 2017.
However, he has been linked with a big summer transfer to Real Madrid, with the Brazilian star not content with life in the French capital.
However, reports claim Neymar has no interest in a move to the Bernabeu – instead preferring a return to Barcelona.
Reports in France suggest Neymar’s representatives are actively looking to hash out a deal that sees the Brazilian return to the Nou Camp.
And the CIES Football Observatory, who analyse data to provide a value into a player’s fee, believe Neymar’s worth now stands between £107m and £134m.
When Mbappe was brought to Paris from Monaco as a promising 18-year-old the impact the Frenchman would have on the side was not foreseen.
Netting 21 times in his first season, the speedy forward improved his scoring rate by 18 goals last campaign – also bettering Neymar’s tally by 16.
Despite his importance to the club, Mbappe said recently: “Maybe I need to take more responsibility. I hope it will be at PSG, or else elsewhere, we will see.”
PSG bosses feared this was a threat the 20-year-old will be willing to walk out unless he is seen as the main man at the Parc des Princes.
The consistency, versatility and clinical finishing of the 20-year-old has convinced PSG chiefs if it is a case of Neymar or Mbappe – the younger, and more promising Frenchman will be chosen.
