How Neymar’s world unravelled at PSG! From ‘turning up to training drunk’ to ‘clashing with youth players and losing the respect of team-mate Kylian Mbappe’
After six years with the French giants, Neymar called an end to his time at the Parc des Princes last summer after securing a lucrative move to Saudi side Al-Hilal.
Some have argued that the Brazilian international failed to live up to expectations during his time at PSG. A new bombshell report from L’Equipe has revealed reasons as to why things went downhill for the 32-year-old.
According to the outlet, there were concerning incidents that led to Neymar’s eventual departure from the club.
They spoke to former players and staff members at PSG, who claimed that ‘he sometimes showed up drunk at training at the end of his adventure’.
Back in 2022, Neymar faced similar allegations after a French journalist claimed that the Brazilian ‘hardly trains anymore, he arrives in a sorry state, almost drunk.’
The source also disclosed an incident at training when Neymar supposedly clashed with one of the assistant coaches, during Christophe Galtier’s time at the club.
Shortly after, during the session, Neymar lashed at youth player Ismael Gharbi before giving him a ‘blow to the head’, according to a witness.
They said: ‘Neymar caught him and gave him a brush and a blow to the head while he was on the ground. Everyone was shocked. In the end, he wasn’t nice’.
The outlet also claimed that Neymar was at the heart of a training ground bust-up between Lionel Messi, Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos.
The source revealed that Messi and Hakimi had clashed, before the Brazilian got up to intervene and support his former Barcelona team-mate.
It’s said that Ramos quickly defused the situation and told Neymar, ‘If you get up, it’s me who comes’.
The source went on to describe how Neymar’s relationship with Kylian Mbappe – which was intended to launch PSG to European glory – eventually deteriorated.
‘At the beginning, Kylian liked Neymar but, after working with him on a daily basis, he lost the respect he had for him,’ confirmed a PSG employee.
‘Conversely, Neymar and [Lionel] Messi were upset to see that the club had given the keys to the truck to Kylian. Messi, even though he was introverted, he would say hello to you.
‘Not Neymar. Him, you had the impression that he didn’t respect you. He refused contact. It’s a shame because, in private, he seems to be nice and generous.
‘I never found him pleasant or warm. Even though he understood French, he didn’t make the effort to speak it’.
The same source continued and claimed that the Brazilian was ‘completely fed up’ with domestic football, despite having motivation to play for his national side.
Earlier this week, Neymar was caught on camera playing online poker at a celebration for his daughter, leaving social media users shocked.
The Al-Hilal superstar welcomed the birth of his daughter Mavie with former partner Bruna Biancardi last year and the pair recently celebrated her turning six months.
However, in a now-viral clip, Neymar was spotted not fully paying attention.
Indeed, the 32-year-old was seen by eagle-eyed followers using his phone to play a round of online poker, a game he has admitted he cannot get enough of.
In the video, Neymar and Biancardi were seen holding Mavie, who was perched on a table, alongside the caption: ‘Six months of the most beautiful princess.’
Neymar held one of his daughter’s hands but in one brief moment turned to his left and tapped his phone screen before re-joining the celebration.
Ahead of his move from PSG to Saudi Arabia, the forward admitted he plans to turn professional in poker once he has hung up his boots in the future.
He made the surprise revelation after taking up an ambassador role with PokerStars.
Neymar said: ‘It’s true I plan to turn pro. I feel very comfortable playing poker, and think I can play in major tournaments after my football career is over.
‘I began playing during the 2014 World Cup, and I have fallen in love with the game.
‘I play poker in an aggressive fashion. My favourite hands are a pair of tens – after my shirt number – and Jack-Five.
‘There are similarities between football and poker, in the ways how you read your game and your opponent, and choose when to attack.
‘I used to play it a lot while with Barcelona, and we play often at PSG.’