Neymar is trying to be like Lionel Messi, according to Goianiense manager Simoes amid his penalty dispute with Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.
As the Parc des Princes outfit climbed back to the top of the Ligue 1 table thanks to a 2-0 win over Lyon last Sunday, the game was somewhat marred with their two superstars clashing over two separate dead-ball situations in the second half.
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Firstly, Cavani demanded to take a free-kick, only for Dani Alves to snatch the ball and hand it to his Brazil teammate Neymar.
Then minutes later after Kylian Mbappe had won a penalty, Cavani and Neymar were spotted having a discussion as to who would take the spot kick. In the end it was the latter who pulled rank – and missed – prompting reports of a dressing room bust-up between the pair.
Simoes, who once called the Brazil international a “monster” recalled a similar situation when the forward was at Santos but believes Neymar is operating under the assumption that he’s responsible for all set-piece situations.
“I believe someone promised him that he could be the best in the world [with PSG],” he told Goal.
“And the best in the world does the same as Cristiano Ronaldo: from the corner kick to the header, penalty, free-kicks… everything. The same happens with Messi.
“I believe they promised him to be responsible for everything.”
The Lyon clash was only the second time in which Neymar has failed to score or register an assist across any competition since his world record €222m (£198m) transfer from Barcelona in the summer.