"Happy in Paris", has Neymar really changed since last summer?

• Spared since his rib injury against Montpellier, Neymar will be present in Dortmund for the knockout leg of the Champions League.
• After two seasons marked by injuries at key moments, Neymar wants to help his team in their quest for the Champions League.
• More generally, despite a tumultuous summer and a desire to start at Barça, the Brazilian has digested all of this and seems to be truly fulfilled at PSG.

If the case around the presence or not of Neymar, Tuesday evening in the Champions League in Dortmund, did p schitt - the player will be on the lawn of Signal Iduna Park despite the pliers-monseigneur out by Tuchel the handyman the days preceding the match -, it will have at least made it possible to realize one thing. The giant tintouin around the star is like what it represents for PSG, this season more than ever: the X factor which can decide by itself or almost the Parisian fate this year in C1.

Beyond the phenomenon that this player represents in Paris and his stratospheric level of play since September, it is above all the attitude of the player that challenges. Whatever the anger of the supporters towards him after the great circus last summer, the player finally seems to be fulfilled in Paris. And that may be what will make all the difference. That and the fact that for once, he's going to play a round of 16.

" Neymar is happy here"

We do not have much merit in making this observation. "For the first time I feel fully happy in Paris," he said of himself in front of his guests during his birthday at Yoyo, the famous nightclub at the Palais de Tokyo. There will always be cranks to claim that it is only com '(and it is possible that it is a little), but those who know it well make another analysis. Like Isabela Pagliari, journalist at Esporte Interativo and close to the Brazilian since his arrival in Paris.

"I think it's sincere, Neymar is happy here. He seems more adapted, he understands the language better, he knows the city better and he fits into the group and adapts better to the players. This was made easier by the fact that many people in the locker room spoke Spanish. It is easier to interact with the rest of the locker room compared to last season. "

Its official communication has also evolved considerably. Target of supporters last summer, his father, who is also his agent and confidant, no longer snuffles, which must make the PSG communications department vacation. A thoughtful strategy symbolized by the “finger on the mouth” celebration of Neymar, used several times during the season. “The idea is to speak less and play more. He himself realizes that if he exposes himself less, that he scores more goals and that he plays good games, it will be better for him ”, confirms his compatriot.

I believe that part of the Virage Auteuil took this celebration for it #PSGFCN pic.twitter.com/i3liaRUd1F

Lynched for his return to the Parc des Princes against Strasbourg and whistled by a good part of the Auteuil turn during the following months, Neymar gradually regained the esteem of the Parisian public. There are still a few mini pockets of protest, but they are now in the minority. At worst, those who have still not forgiven him for his statements of last summer now display a kind of benevolent ignorance. Seen from where we started, it's not Peru but not far.

Acclaimed by a large part of the Park during its last outings, Neymar no longer hesitates to harangue the turn. A way to take another step towards him, to show him that the grudge ... "It is much better with the supporters, he agreed after the victory in Bordeaux at the end of September. It's like having a relationship with your girlfriend. When you're not good with her, you don't talk to her. Afterwards, with lots of love and hugs, everything will be back to normal. "Ok lover. Then came this promise: "I'm going to give my life on the ground for PSG to succeed and that in the end we party together. "

Neymar, the true leader of PSG

On this point, crack did not lie. Until his recent rib injury, Neymar illuminated the first part of the Paris season, far, far ahead of crackito Mbappé. "He is the real leader of PSG this year, there is not even a debate," claims Canal + consultant Alain Roche. Always so unpredictable and silky ball on the feet, Ney also turned into a pug at the loss of the ball. And this is new.

The former Parisian milieu develops: “From the end of October, we witnessed a real change, he made the efforts, he set the example. Even if he does too much it doesn't matter. The main thing is that he sets an example. Not for the public but for his teammates. When you have in front of you a guy who runs everywhere, who defends, who makes the efforts in the withdrawal, who fights to recover the balloons, inevitably that involves you. Because conversely, when your so-called leader does not give a damn, it annoys. I know it, I already experienced it (laughs)! "

Neymar vs Montpellier:

- 10 successful dribbles
- 5 occasions created
- 19 won duels
- 1 decisive past
- 4 key passes
- 19 Duels won
- MOTM

Quite simply MONSTER 👏🔥 pic.twitter.com/nsQzrFhNOo

At ease in this group, Neymar also realized that he was playing in one of the best teams in Europe (on paper). Thanks in particular to a more complete and sexy transfer window than last season. "He sees that PSG has corrected certain aspects that displeased him, such as the arrival of Keylor Navas in the cages, triple winner of the Champions League, confirms Isabela Pagliari. It's a much more dynamic and strong team with Icardi who is very good, with Cavani who stayed. "From the outside, we sometimes have reservations about the strength of this group because we remember these last years, but they know they are scary," says Alain Roche.

And time passes, and passes, and passes

Finally, Neymar is no more stupid than another. After two years marked by injuries and an inexorable fall in the ranking of the Golden Ball, the boy knows that time is running out. Isabela Pagliari: "He knows he's getting older, he's 28 years old and has goals to reach: The Champions League with PSG, to be the best in the world by winning the Ballon d'Or and winning the Coupe du world with Brazil. He knows that he is at a key moment in his career. "

There remains the question of its future. If he finally feels at home in the capital and that PSG finally manages not to retame in C1 this season, the former of Santos can he consider a contract extension as would like Prince Al-Thani and Leonardo? "I think it will extend," wets Alain Roche. The Brazilian journalist is more cautious. For her, "it's hard to say. Everything will depend on the course of PSG in this Champions League. "

This is what the main interested party in France Football implied last December: "Why do you want to leave here?" I still have two years of contract, the team continues to progress. We have to stay focused on this season to get it right and win as many titles as possible. This season, the goal is the Champions League. "At work, then.

Sport

Dortmund-PSG: Response Sunday for Neymar, Thiago Silva ensures that he "will be there"

Sport

Dortmund-PSG: Thomas Tuchel more and more confident about the presence of Neymar against Borussia

• Soccer
• Borussia Dortmund
• Sport
• Champions League
• PSG
• Neymar