Neymar has fired back at the reporter who claimed he was turning up to training "almost drunk" after bagging a brace for PSG.
The Brazilian trickster scored twice in the 5-1 win over Lorient on Sunday night, bagging either side of Kylian Mbappe's brace and Lionel Messi's strike. Neymar has struggled for form this season, with injuries certainly playing a part in that.
But RMC Sport journalist Daniel Riolo had seemingly suggested that Neymar's recent struggles were self-inflicted by slacking in training. Riolo said last month: "Neymar hardly trains anymore, he arrives in a sorry state, almost drunk. That's the way it is, Neymar is in a spirit of revenge against PSG.”
Neymar's Brazil team-mate Lucas Paqueta has rubbished the claims, with PSG merely responding by stating they do not “respond to fake news”. But now Neymar himself has finally spoken out for the first time with a brilliant response on social media.
Alongside a video of his second goal against Lorient, he wrote on Instagram : “It was ‘drunk’, that’s why it worked…as they say around there.”
What do you make of Neymar's struggles this season? Comment down below
Neymar was defended by Lyon and Brazil midfielder Paqueta shortly after the rumours surfaced. He said during the international break: "It's a total lack of respect, to say or transmit information that is false."
"Obviously, he (Neymar) didn't comment on that, I believe it's a lie.
"People talk too much and it ends up affecting us a little in a way, it's difficult to filter all that. You can't believe what people say... I believe Neymar is a great professional."
PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted that despite the win over Lorient, his players were still reeling from the Champions League exit against Real Madrid, but he was pleased to see his players "having fun" again.
I don't think you can heal so quickly from an injury as deep as elimination in the Champions League," said the Argentine. "It will take time.
"But it was good to win, to stay on track in Ligue 1 which is the only competition we have left to play until the end of the season.
"We had to take the three points to maintain the distance with our opponents. It's also good to have seen the players having fun like this (Sunday) evening."
