The Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá, a French Lyon player, described this Tuesday as false and totally disrespectful the criticism of a French journalist to his partner Neymar, PSG crack, whom he accused of “reaching the limit of going to training drunk” .
“It is even disrespectful to transmit information that is not true. Obviously it is not true,” Paquetá said in a virtual press conference that he gave from the concentration of the Brazilian team in Teresópolis, where Brazil prepares its last two games of the league. South American qualifier for the 2022 World Cup against Chile and Bolivia.
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Paquetá, one of the ‘canarinha’ players closest to Neymar, with whom he also coincides in French football, assured that the PSG attacker preferred to ignore these criticisms.
“Some people say these things irresponsibly without knowing that they can end up affecting us. It is not possible that they believe in rumors that people make up and present them as if it were totally true. I think Neymar is an excellent professional and I don’t think he has done that,” Paquetá added.
the accusations
In a television program, the journalist Daniel Riolo, a commentator for RMC Sport, said that Neymar is not committed to PSG nor does he have a minimally professional behavior.
“Neymar hardly trains, he arrives at training in an unfortunate state, to the point of being drunk. Neymar is in a spirit of revenge with PSG. There is a total break between the club and the dressing room,” said the French journalist, in an accusation that has had wide repercussions in the Brazilian press.
The Brazilian attacker, after overcoming an ankle injury, has been receiving harsh criticism from the French press since Real Madrid eliminated PSG in the Champions League.
Despite the fact that he renewed his contract until 2025, the French press speculates on the probable departure of Naymar, who in the current season only scored five goals.
Paquetá took advantage of the press conference to come out in defense of his teammate, who arrived on Tuesday at the concentration of the Brazilian team having been summoned this time after missing the last games of the ‘canarinha’ due to injury.
Praise to Neymar
“I think they will always hear me say that Neymar is above all a great person, a great professional, that he has great talent and that he is the best player on the national team. And having him by our side is a privilege and makes us feel stronger.” Paqueta said.
“Regardless of his moment and that PSG is eliminated, they will always demand him. But he has already recovered from the injury and came stronger to help us. I am sure he will do very well in the national team,” added the Lyon midfielder.
In their last two matches of the World Cup qualifiers, despite the fact that they still have a match with Argentina pending but without a defined date or place, Brazil will receive Chile on Thursday at the Maracaná in Rio de Janeiro and next Tuesday they will visit Bolivia in La Peace.
Brazil, which has already secured its ticket to Qatar, is the undefeated leader of the South American league, with 39 points and a balance of twelve wins and three draws.