Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s media has dubbed the spat between Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Edinson Cavani over who should take a penalty kick during their Sunday victory against Lyon ‘a war of egos’.
Newspapers in Brazil, always hungry for news on Neymar, dived into the tussle in which the recently-signed PSG superstar tried to take the ball from his Uruguayan teammate. Cavani kept the ball but had his shot saved in what was ultimately a 2-0 win.
“Neymar and Cavani argue again,” O Dia’s headline read, referring to another penalty incident during PSG’s 6-2 win over Toulouse, August 20 – Neymar’s first home game with the French side after his transfer from Barcelona.
“The result allowed Neymar’s team to remain on top of the Ligue 1 points table but what caught the attention was the poor understanding between the Brazilian and Cavani,” O Globo daily said.
Ledio Carmona, a commentator for ‘Sport TV’, which broadcasts Ligue 1 games, said Neymar risks estranging himself from his new teammates if he keeps ‘playing selfishly’.
“I think this throws a bit of a shadow, it shows an overly individualistic side. If other situations like this happen the situation could degrade into a battle of personal egos,” he stated.
Globoesporte.com went further, calling it a ‘war of egos’. “It’s clear these two players don’t get on,” the site said.
Meanwhile a section of the French media reported that PSG boss Unai Emery has warned both Neymar and Cavani after the game. “Both Neymar and Cavani have been designated to hit the penalties,” he has been quoted as saying by ‘FourFourTwo’. “It takes a gentleman’s agreement to decide. If the problem persists, then I will step in and decide,” he added.
Agencies