Tuchel: If PSG loses Neymar, I will not sleep

Paris Saint-Germain fans made their feelings clear about Neymar on Sunday but Thomas Tuchel would hate to lose the forward.

Published : Aug 12, 2019 08:20 IST

Neymar has scored 34 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances despite both his seasons at PSG being interrupted by serious foot injuries.
Neymar has scored 34 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances despite both his seasons at PSG being interrupted by serious foot injuries.
lightbox-info

Neymar has scored 34 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances despite both his seasons at PSG being interrupted by serious foot injuries.

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel said he "will not sleep" if Neymar leaves the club – a view that does not appear to be shared by a section of their fanbase.

The world's most expensive player has once again been linked with a return to LaLiga over recent weeks, with a second stint at his former club Barcelona reported to be the 27-year-old's preference.

Neymar sat out PSG's Ligue 1 opener against Nimes on Sunday, where some of the Parc des Princes crowd aimed derogatory chants towards him.

PSG ultras also unfurled banners telling Neymar, a €222million signing in August 2017, to leave.

Speaking before the match, where Edinson Cavani gave the French champion a 1-0 half-time advantage from the penalty spot, Tuchel told the Canal Football Show: "I have no news of his future. He is with us. He was very decisive for us.

"If we lose Neymar, I will not sleep, perhaps. Because he's hard to lose and [it is hard to] find another guy doing the same things for us. Maybe no news is good news.

"It's hard not to know. Because I want him with us. But we have to find solutions without him too.

"I try to convince him to stay. But on the other hand, it's a personal choice. It's between him and the club."

On Friday, PSG's sporting director Leonardo explained a resolution was yet to be reached over Neymar's future.

"Talks are more advanced than before, but no agreement," he said. "We will see what happens - everybody needs the future to be defined."

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment