Alvaro Gonzalez during his altercation with Neymar, at the Parc des Princes.

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AFP

  • Alvaro Gonzalez, the defender of OM, finds PSG and Neymar this Wednesday evening for the champions trophy, a few weeks after a stormy end to the match marked by accusations of racism by Neymar against him.

  • Very marked after this episode, Alvaro has turned the page and the defender is concentrating on the pitch, hoping for a first selection for the Spanish national team.

"Alvaro is always motivated for the matches".

It is with a broad smile that Nemanja Radonjic explained that his teammate Alvaro did not need to find PSG, and Neymar, to have an additional source of motivation.

The central defender of Olympique de Marseille finds this Wednesday evening the Parisian club for the Champions Trophy, after the classico controversy last September and the Brazilian's accusations against him.

“All that is over.

I need to talk about football, ”Alvaro cut short at a previous press conference.

This episode deeply marked the one who has just celebrated his 31 years, before finally being cleared by the disciplinary committee.

“He was extremely touched, he took this injustice in the face.

It was when we got on the plane that we realized that it was going off like a lollipop.

Spontaneously, all his teammates said it was rubbish, ”said a source within the club.

"We had full confidence in him"

“When he turned his phone back on when he landed, he had dozens of threatening and insulting messages.

It made a big impression on his family, his friends, ”continues the same source.

To the point of filing a complaint, before changing phone number in the process.

"He suffered a lot with what happened, but I do not want to talk too much about that, it is in the hands of the French justice", evaded André Villas-Boas.

Hi friends.

We continue to row in the right direction.

The team is united with AVB and its staff, as always.

We enjoyed last year and will do it this year too.

Thank you always for being behind us.

Come on OM💙 #Respect pic.twitter.com/5E0qm9HFH3

- Álvaro González (@AlvaroGonzalez_) December 18, 2020

The player was immediately supported by the club, through president Jacques-Henri Eyraud, coach André Villas Boas and sporting director Pablo Longoria.

“We were very present right away because we had full confidence in him.

We know him, we see how he is with his teammates in training, with the people of the club.

He is always up for the club's promotional operations, he feels Marseillais, he is part of the executives.

And he is very close to the supporters, ”we remind OM.

It was also during a meeting between club leaders, supporters of groups of supporters and the player, that Alvaro shed some tears.

"It was dramatic for him, if he no longer had the support of the supporters, he could no longer play football," we told OM.

To the point that we lend him the desire to leave the club.

“It went further than OM.

But he was touched and comforted by the expressions of sympathy from former teammates who were ready to speak ”.

"He is not racist, stories like that in big games, it happens often," also recalled his teammate Nemanja Radonjic.

"It strengthened the love we have for him"

The support of the supporters, especially through this photo with the South Winners, also relieved him a lot.

For "Titi", a supporter always present in front of the training center, there was not the slightest question as to the probity of "warrior" Alvaro.

“There was no doubt he was never questioned by the supporters.

On the contrary, it even reinforced the love we have for him, ”he says.

Life!!!

OM is different 💙😍🔥 https://t.co/aJFfDZaHCX

- Álvaro González (@AlvaroGonzalez_) January 6, 2021

According to him, Alvaro is the most available player.

“He stops practically every day to take pictures with the kids, to donate swimsuits.

He even invited a supporter to the store who had made a flag with his effigy to offer him a jersey.

He has his heart on his hands, ”he says.

First trophy and first selection?

For the club as for the player, "the page is turned".

Evidenced by the silence of the last while Neymar did not hesitate to add fuel to the fire after the interruption of the match between PSG and Basaksehir, believing that he "should have done the same against Marseille".

And if he accused the blow for a good week, this controversy did not really influence his performance.

Author of a solid season, he was even pre-convened in the Spanish selection.

“I've never been there so it's a bit difficult.

If I play well and we continue to be in the top, that we win the title of the champions trophy, there are opportunities.

I started this year a little low, but I'm raising my level and it's important if I want to go to the national team, ”he recalled shortly before the winter break.

Despite all this controversy, there is no doubt that Alvaro will not hesitate to go to the duel on Wednesday night, just to win the first trophy of his career.

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