Brazil coach Tite has admitted that PSG want out superstar, Neymar, forced him to discard a part of his original game plan with a heroic showing in the Selecao’s 2-2 draw with Colombia in an international friendly match early Saturday morning (Nigerian time) in Miami, USA, Completesports.com reports.
Neymar couldn’t see his spirited remonstration to leave Paris Saint-Germain and rejoin Barcelona materialize in the summer as both the Ligue 1 side and Laliga giants failed to agree a deal
Neymar was yet to play a part in Thomas Tuchel’s team after four rounds of Ligue 1 games this term as a result of the transfer saga when Tite called him up for the Brazil – Colombia clash, with an original plan to give him a limited game time.
Neymar however showed no sign of match rustiness and dazzled his national team coach and the 65,232 sellout crowd at the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, with a sterling performance.
He provided an assist from a corner-kick from which Casemeiro netted the curtain raiser in the 19th minute. Then scored with a nifty side-footed effort in the 58th minute to end the scoreline at 2-2 after Luis Muriel’s brace (25th and 34th minutes) had Colombia in front.
“I said l will take him [Neymar] off for the sake of physical preservation,” Tite told reporters after the game in Miami.
“But I saw that his physical responses were strong, intense, and coordinated. I could see him improving [as the match progressed].
“As the game approached the end, he produced [great moments] more and more. He kept his technique well and created space. He was above my expectation.”
Tite added: “We talked yesterday about monitoring the performance of Neymar from 45 minutes.
“A player starts thinking and cannot
perform [if tired]. But he was thinking and performing. It surprised me.”
Tite would also explain Neymar’s emotional goal celebration in the match. He ran over to hug his coach in a moment of ecstasy after netting the equalizer.
“It is a reaction of true loyalty. We have a relationship of truth and loyalty. We say what we think is right and what is wrong,” he said.
“It is a transparent relationship. I don’t analyse other facts, and situations, but can say that we have a good relationship.”
