Rennes v / PSG: Neymar has not proved its value for PSG since the move of 222 million euros in Barcelona

"Today, the investment we have made is long term and I'm sure in two or three years, everyone will say," Look at Paris Saint-Germain, they did a fantastic job. "

These are the words of the Qatari president of Paris Saint-Germain, Nbader Al-Khelaifi, at Telegraph after the signature of Brazilian superstar Neymar from Barcelona.

The € 222 million spent by PSG to sign Neymar in 2017 still represents the largest transfer fees ever paid by a club and, at the time, they more than doubled the amount spent on footballer.

This decision was made because the owners of PSG, Qatar Sports Investment (QSI), had to make a statement at the end of the 2016-17 season. The club had just lost the title of Ligue 1 champion against Monaco and had suffered a humiliating capitulation against Barcelona in the last 32 of the Champions League.

Despite the fact that PSG beat Barca 4-0 in Paris in the first leg, Neymar caused an incredible comeback at Camp Nou. He scored in the 88th and 91th minute before Sergi Roberto's strike on 95 minutes, PSG was sentenced to a remarkable 6-1 defeat that night (6-5 overall).

It was decided that the samba icon would epitomize PSG to the glory of the Champions League, the only QSI trophy being obsessed with victory.

The Qataris sanctioned the amount of the transfer of the world record to bring Neymar to Paris and a clever loan and purchase option (€ 180m) was put in place to secure another future superstar to Kylian Mbappe of Monaco.

For two years, Mbappe celebrates the second consecutive title of PSG in Ligue 1 Sunday with a hat trick against Monaco. He has now scored 30 goals in Ligue 1 this season in 27 games, just behind Lionel Messi in Europe. Neymar, meanwhile, came into play in the second half to play his first match since his foot fracture in January.

Once again, Neymar, who has been named the main man of the PSG, was invited to play a supporting role while his youngest teammate, Mbappe, took charge of the heavy load on the score sheet.

The concern for PSG is that too often, Neymar is not even able to be part of the first team because of a wide range of fitness problems that plague her since her move to Paris.

It was just the 14th league appearance of the season for Neymar. He has been absent in 17 of PSG 's last 19 Ligue 1 games because of the foot injury and adductor problems mentioned above. He also misses both legs of the extraordinary defeat of the eighth-final Champions League against Manchester United.

Although some critics initially hinted that PSG was taking advantage of Neymar's absence in the 2-0 win at Old Trafford, he would undoubtedly have made a vital difference since he was losing luck after occasion at home. lose against the Red Devils on goals away.

What makes the situation even more worrying for the PSG is that it was the same thing last season, with problems of injuries to Neymar that made him miss important amounts of football.

Even though PSG won the title against Monaco in 2017-18, Neymar only played 20 league games, a metatarsal injury making them miss the last three months of the campaign – which also included the match return from their Champions League round. 16 exit for the future winners of Real Madrid.

In total, since joining the club, Neymar has missed 50 of 105 PSG competition matches for a variety of reasons, including injury, suspension and rest.

Neymar had extraordinary performances, scoring 48 goals and ambading 27 badists in 54 games as a PSG player, winning two Ligue 1 titles and two national cups last season.

But Neymar did not sign as a player to bring national glory to a club that had won four of the last five league championships before his arrival. Indeed, Al-Khelaifi made similar remarks during the unveiling of the player as a player of the PSG.

"Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our loyal fans, to the realization of our greatest dreams", Al-Khelaifi m said .

All European clubs dreaming of winning the Champions League and PSG are no closer to winning the trophy since Neymar made the jump.

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The enormity of Neymar's transfer fee means that he will be judged on his performances in PSG's biggest matches – just like Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus and Paul Pogba at Manchester United.

Al-Khelaifi thought that he was getting value for money when he introduced the player to the world : "Today it may seem expensive, but in two years" time it could not be anymore. "

Until then, this has turned out to be a condemned prophecy.