Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta defended fellow Brazilian Neymar Tuesday after the star striker got here in for boos and jeers over Paris Saint-Germain’s humiliating exit from the Champions League.
“Neymar is above all an excellent individual, an excellent skilled, with unbelievable expertise. He’s unquestionably one of the best participant on the Brazilian nationwide workforce,” Paqueta, 24, instructed a information convention on the coaching heart the place Brazil are getting ready for the ultimate spherical of 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
“It’s a privilege to have him with us. Once I’ve obtained Neymar at my aspect, I really feel stronger, and my teammates too.”
Neymar and fellow PSG celebrity Lionel Messi have been heckled by followers in Paris for the reason that membership crashed out of the Champions League on March 9 in an embarrassing last-16 defeat to Actual Madrid.
Neymar, 30, is now trying to flip a web page as he returns to the nationwide workforce after lacking the final spherical of World Cup qualifiers as a result of an ankle damage.
“PSG had been eradicated, so the press and followers are going to criticize him for that. However he’s been recovering from damage. He’s getting stronger by the day, and I’m certain he’s going to do an excellent job serving to the Selecao,” stated Paqueta, a current arrival on the nationwide workforce who has described Neymar as a mentor.
Brazil, who certified for Qatar in November, will face Chile Thursday and Bolivia subsequent Tuesday within the remaining spherical of qualifiers.
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