Antoine Kombouare, present Nantes The coach and former PSG defender (1990-95) has seen quite a bit of that in football. But even he was surprised at what he saw. He couldn’t help but ask Neymar (albeit a bit slurred) during the French Super Cup match between PSG and Nantes 10 days ago in Israel: “Oh, you’re defending now, aren’t you?”
It made the Brazilian striker smile; Indeed, he had just sped up 30 yards to step back in defense as PSG lost the ball and Nantes prepared to attack. If this is new to Kombouare, it also feels new to a lot of people watching.
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Not far away, Christophe Galtier, the new coach of PSG, sneered when he heard his counterpart speak. If there is a new Neymar – or, perhaps, a more focused, dedicated and determined Neymar – it is also thanks to him or we can say because of him.
When Galtier and new sporting director Luis Campos arrived in Paris, in July and May respectively, they made sure Neymar understood that he was no longer indispensable to the team. Campos has never told him directly that he wants to find him a new club, but the No 10 and his entourage know that PSG are ready to let him go.
It was supposed to be a warning before Barcelona star needed. Neymar returned four days early from his holiday and is in good shape, unlike last summer when he returned to training overweight. He has been working hard since the beginning of July to ensure that he will be ready and sharper for the early part of the season than ever. We’ve seen some signs of his renewed focus in some of PSG’s pre-season friendlies, but nothing has prepared us for what we’ve seen in Nantes .’s 4-0 journey in the Super Cup and then Beat Clermont 5-0 on the opening weekend of the Ligue 1 campaign.
Simply put, it was Neymar at his best. From goals (3) to assists (3), as well as things like chances created (9) and fouls on him (7), he is unstoppable. It’s fair to argue that these are not the toughest opponents to open the campaign and this story needs to be proven in the coming weeks, but it looks like Neymar is happy again, which is important. than his stats.
In the time (both short and long) since he arrived in the French capital five years ago, happiness has been significantly absent from Neymar’s life for various reasons, both on and off the pitch. He turned 30 last February with a party that was less lavish than the previous ones, while he showed more maturity and perhaps, he is self-aware that his career is entering final chapter. The clock is ticking and Neymar wants to enjoy the remaining years of his playing career as much as possible. He looks as if he’s on a mission not just to find his best form, but to be happy again and win with club and country.
It’s also true that he has a bit of a reason to prove it. He cannot ignore the optical ability when offered to big clubs in Europe, as well as the US and other exotic destinations, especially since he just signed a new contract a year ago. , which runs until June 2027. That’s entirely possible. he is annoyed by the fact that PSG are trying to push him out. That feeling was heightened when Nasser al Khelaifi, the chairman, spoke of the “end of the bling bling era” at the club; Everyone assumes he’s in love with Neymar.
So now, he seems to be happy running, defending, fighting for possession, thinking about others and being a team player. And, of course, to enjoy his football. He will never have the ball rush of his early 20s, nor the dribbling of his youth, but the talent still abounds.
The arrival of Galtier was essential to this development. Neymar is not too keen on former coach Mauricio Pochettino; Lionel Messi neither. However, Neymar still gets along with Galtier. Publicly, the manager also said the right things like wanting to keep him and would rely on him. Galtier knows PSG are stronger with Neymar at his best than without him, but Neymar also understands that if he doesn’t do what his manager tells him, he will dump him. . No more status or “play favorite”.
Tactically, the new 3-4-1-2 has brought Neymar closer to Messi in the middle of the field for the first two games, and it will keep him closer to Messi. Kylian Mbappe so did when the Frenchman returned to the team after a suspension (for the match against Nantes) and a minor groin injury forced him to sit out against Clermont.
Neymar can’t play wide anymore: he gets special focus for Brazil for a while now under Tite, and a similar change at PSG is the best that can happen to him at club level. Galtier realizes that and Neymar is shining. To maintain this form, perform against top teams and help lead PSG to that elusive first Champions League title, Neymar will have to stay healthy and also focus on the invisible work on the ball. Now that he’s put himself in such a good position at the start of the season, it would be a shame to let it go to waste.
