The “penaltygate” drama at Paris Saint-Germain refuses to die down. In the latest chapter, PSG has formally denied reports that the club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi offered a €1 million bonus and an improved contract to Edison Cavani to pacify the situation.
After the on-field feud between Cavani and Neymar over a penalty kick in the match against Lyon, reports emerged that the offered the Uruguayan striker more money to allow new signing Neymar to take penalties, an offer which was summarily rejected.
However, a day later, the club responded saying they never made such an offer to Cavani. PSG told Le Parisien that the report was untrue. The newspaper tweeted the club’s statement on Monday.
Earlier this week, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported that Al-Khelaifi sent an intermediary to offer money to the Uruguayan forward. However, he had reportedly said that he would continue taking his share of penalties because he had been playing for PSG for four years and was the team’s third captain.
The relationship between the two strikers at PSG has been reported to be frosty since the Brazilian’s world-record move to Paris earlier in the summer. Cavani was the lead striker for the club the whole of last season after Zlatan Ibrahimovich had moved to Manchester United, till Neymar’s shock $222 million move.
It all came to head during a 2-0 victory over Lyon last week, when the South American pair had disagreed over who should take a penalty, before Cavani saw his effort saved by Anthony Lopes. Neymar then appeared to walk away shaking his head in disgust.
Another incident in the game saw Cavani and Neymar disagree over who should take a free-kick with the match still goalless. Dani Alves intervened to give his compatriot the ball on that occasion, and Neymar’s strike was saved. After the match, the pair apparently had a row in the dressing room as well.
While the Brazilian didn’t play the next Ligue 1 game, a 0-0 draw at Montpellier , due to injury, he is expected to be back for the mid-week Champions League game against Bayern Munich. It will be interesting to see how the expensive PSG strike-force respond in this crucial match.
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