Neymar, signaled

At the beginning of the season, Pochettino was forceful with Mbappé, Messi and Neymar. The PSG coach assured that there was no reason to substitute them during a match because their technical quality could be differential at any time. That speech has changed in March, since this Sunday the Argentine removed Neymar from the field of play when the Parisian team was succumbing in Monaco (3-0).

Since he returned in February from his ankle injury, Neymar’s performance has been quite disappointing. The Brazilian has not recovered his best level and the audience at the Parc des Princes pointed him out last week for his premature elimination in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Against Monaco, the midfielder suffered from a lack of rhythm and was barely able to combine with Mbappé, his best partner in recent years and, along with Messi, the player with whom he understood the most on the pitch.

The substitution of Neymar, according to L’Équipe, did not like anything to the crack of PSG. He left the field of play walking when his team was going with an adverse result on the scoreboard, he didn’t even look at Pochettino and he could be seen with a serious face on the bench while the Parisians were unable to turn the game around. That change can mean a change of status in Parissince what was clear this Sunday is that Neymar is no longer untouchable for his coach.

The bad meeting that Neymar did coincides with the period of reflection in Paris. The latest information in France points to a possible departure of the former Barcelona player in June, as long as an interesting offer arrives. His high salary is an impediment for the rest of the clubs and to this we must add that PSG renewed him until 2026 just over a year ago. Difficult times lie ahead in Paris in an unprecedented crisis for the Qatari reign within PSG.