Neymar will not be easy to keep at PSG amid transfer speculation, says teammate Marquinhos

European clubs have been put on alert after PSG opened the door for Neymar to leave

Jack Watson
Monday 24 June 2019 10:35 BST
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Paris Saint-Germain may struggle to keep Neymar this summer amid transfer interest from rival European clubs, admits club and international teammate Marquinhos.

The French champions are growing frustrated by his “superstar behaviour” and the club’s president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has challenged him to “work more” otherwise “the doors are open”.

Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record deal with the French club hoping he could propel them to Champions League glory, but injuries and underwhelming European performances have resulted in early exits in the knockout rounds during his time.

While Marquinhos admitted it is difficult to sign a player like Neymar, he said PSG will find it “hard” to hold onto him.

“It's difficult to recruit a player like him into your club and it's hard to keep him, but I hope he'll continue with us," Marquinhos told L'Equipe.

“He is an important player, he's also a friend, a guy I love, and I really hope he'll stay.

“We have not talked about his future, I guess there are already a lot of people who only talk to him about it.”

Neymar’s former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez said playing with the Brazilian winger was “one of the best moments I have experienced” and Arturo Vidal added that “it would be really nice” if he returns to the Camp Nou.

An injury has ruled Neymar out of the Copa America, but he visited the Brazil team hotel ahead of Saturday’s 5-0 win against Peru.

“He's a friend, so we just wanted to know if he was feeling better, mentally and physically,” added Marquinhos.

“He can make movements with his foot, he can already hit the ball a little at home.

“At the beginning of this he was really sad but today he is better, and that's why it made us happy to see it.”

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