This is the soap opera that acts the football planet this summer. The end of the transfer window is getting closer, without Neymar moving away from the PSG. "We have no solution," conceded Saturday his coach Thomas Tuchel, acting a week of difficult negotiations with Barca.
And if the superstar stayed one more year in the capital? Last weekend, the point of no return did not seem very far, between his non-convocation in the group for the resumption of Ligue 1 and the insults of Parisian Ultras enjoining him to "break".
Bought 222 million euros in 2017, Neymar is in the transfer window, as he knows the field: elusive, to dribble rumors and defenders with the same ease that makes him one of the top three players on the planet.
"We do not have a solution to get him out of the club"
Today, his record has taken a new turn, which gives back credit to the scenario, still unlikely a few days ago, according to which he would stay in France, in agreement with his contract running until 2022.
"We do not have a solution to get him out of the club, it's one thing between him and the club, if there are no solutions, he stays with us," his coach explained. of the trip to Rennes for which he did not call the Brazilian, still in the recovery phase after his ankle injury late May.
The striker has not played a minute with the new jersey, in pre-season as in the league. But his summons Friday for friendly matches of his national team in September suggests a return to normal near. On the grass side, at least.
Coutinho out of negotiations
Behind the scenes, the complicated discussions between his club and FC Barcelona, his preferred destination according to the press, remove the possibility of a quick resolution, desired by the sports director Leonardo who wants to quickly find an answer to this huge question mark on the PSG season. Above all, the agreement in principle for the loan of Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho Bayern, announced Friday night, has rebuffed the cards.
The French and Catalan media seemed to agree these last days to say that the neo-Bavarian was one of the most pleasant players Parisians, which made it a plausible bargaining chip in the context of an operation including a or several players and a sum of money in exchange for Neymar.
Tuchel's speech has changed
On what basis will the negotiations between the PSG and the Catalans resume? Real Madrid, on the lookout, will he be able to seize the opportunity? Two weeks from the end of the transfer window, the series holds breath in the world football fans, without the time necessarily plays to the advantage of Parisians, according to Tuchel.
"I do not know if time changes many things," conceded the German philosopher.
But his speech has already changed. Sunday after the inaugural success against Nîmes (3-0), he said, almost fatalistic, that it was necessary to "find solutions without Neymar.This is the reality." Six days later, he explained how the Brazilian was indispensable to his team.
"When I think of a strong team, it's with him, but a Ney in a good, aggressive, with races, dribbling, free and totally 'fit'," he said, while preparing the return of his superstar to the Park. "He's a very sensitive guy, it's not easy to come in and convince everybody that he's there, he gives everything, it's the challenge, we have to do it together, I'll always protect him. , and push it to the best level possible. " But which jersey?