Marseilles (AFP)

Marked by the accusations of racism brought against him by Neymar during the hot PSG-OM in September, Alvaro Gonzalez was able to remain calm on the ground and remains the boss of the defense of Marseille at the time of meeting the Parisians on Wednesday in Lens for the Champions Trophy.

The spitting of Di Maria in his direction, the continual quarrels with Neymar and especially the accusations of racism of the Brazilian: Alvaro was at the heart of the Clasico in September, played in a detestable atmosphere.

The disciplinary commission of the League closed the case, for lack of evidence, but the Marseille stopper had to defend himself and justify himself and he was marked.

While OM will find PSG on Wednesday, the case has of course returned to the fore but OM side, it was quickly dispatched.

“What is certain is that he is not racist,” said Nemanja Radonjic, sent to a press conference on Monday.

"I do not want to talk about it too much. He obviously suffered a lot from what happened. But I believe that it is a case which concerns French justice", for his part briefly answered his trainer André Villas-Boas , in reference to a complaint filed by the Spaniard after receiving death threats.

- "I'm terrible..." -

In an interview in October with Spanish radio Onda Cero, the former Villarreal player for his part assured that the Parc des Princes match was behind him.

"Neymar does not deserve anything from me. Neither my respect, nor anything", he also blurted out.

Disturbed in his daily life - he had to change his phone number - Alvaro, however, did not move on the ground.

Always solid, without frills but without many mistakes either, the Spaniard is still the mainstay of OM's defense, while Caleta-Car is playing a fairly neutral season and the sides are overdue.

"I think I'm having a good time in my career. I feel very good, physically I'm good, without problems after my injury last year (a fibula fracture at the start of the 2019-20 season, editor's note) ", confirmed in December the player who has just celebrated his 31 years.

Exclusive defender, he even cracked an assist in Nîmes (1-0) on a superb opening for Dario Benedetto who, in the tone of a joke, questioned the voluntary nature of such a gesture.

"But it's voluntary my friend!", Alvaro took offense to the press, also half hilarious.

"I suck but I know how to pass. It's incredible, I pass in the season and here we are ..."

- Hope for the Euro?

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While his relations with Marseille supporters may have been clouded for a time by suspicions of racist behavior surrounding him, Alvaro was also reinforced by the banners displayed at the Vélodrome ("Contigo siempre", always with you) or in front of La Commanderie .

"For me it's hard without the fans at the stadium, so it made me very, very happy," he said of that Spanish flag flocked to his face and his N.3 on the entrance to the training center.

His consistent performance has also attracted attention in Spain and he received pre-calls from the coach, which left him with a (slim) hope of playing the Euro.

"It's difficult. I've never been to the selection. But hey, if I do things right, if we stay close to the top in the league, if we win a title with the Supercopa, well ... There may be -being opportunities, ”he said in December.

This "Supercup" is the Champions Trophy.

And even against PSG, it is undoubtedly a more attainable horizon than the Euro and Alvaro knows well.

"I have never won a club title. So yes, that's a goal."

© 2021 AFP