Neymar back in PSG squad for Marseille game after recovering from COVID-19

Brazilian star Neymar is back in the Paris Saint-Germain squad for Sunday’s Ligue 1 match against arch-rivals Marseille after serving a Covid-19 quarantine, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed.

Neymar tested positive for coronavirus on Sept.2, having contracted the virus holidaying in Ibiza following the 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final in Lisbon last month.

The Brazilian, along with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes, were all quarantined, with Neymar making his return to training on Friday.

PSG confirmed three more cases with L’Equipe identifying them as Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, Brazilian defender Marquinhos and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Apart from Mbappe all of them contracted the virus after jetting off to Ibiza following the Champions League defeat.

“Who’s back? It’s Keylor, Angel di Maria, ‘Ney’ and ‘Leo’ (Paredes), as well as (new signing Alessandro) Florenzi,” PSG coach Tuchel said.

“If I ask them if they want to play, their response will be yes. We’ll decide tomorrow.

“It’s a question of knowing whether they’ll start or finish the match for us.

“You don’t have to wait too long. If there is no risk, we’ll try.”

PSG’s season opener was pushed back because of their European exploits. But missing some of their most prized players, the capital club fell to a defeat by newly-promoted Lens in their rescheduled game on Thursday.

After hosting Marseille at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, PSG play Metz on Wednesday before travelling to pacesetters Nice the following Sunday.PSG began their title defense with a 1-0 loss at Lens on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Neymar has signed an endorsement contract with Puma to become the German sportswear giant’s new global poster boy on Saturday two weeks after the Brazilian superstar parted company with longtime sponsor Nike.

“Welcome to the fam @Neymarjr #KingIsBack” Puma tweeted alongside a photo of the Paris Saint-Germain striker, kitted out in his new marketing ‘club’s’ clothes.

The world’s most expensive player confirmed the sponsorship transfer in an open letter posted on social media.

“I grew up watching videos of great football legends such as Pele, Cruyff, Eusebio and Maradona...who each played in Puma.

“For these reasons, from today onward, I have the honour to unite with the brand that helped the biggest legends of football become what they are,” he wrote.

Neither Neymar nor Puma gave details of the length of the contract or how much it was worth.

“Neymar Jr...is an ambassador of the brand on and off the pitch,” the company told AFP, emphasising the confidentiality around the contract.

The move represents a significant change for the 28-year-old after leaving Nike, his sponsors since he was a 13-year-old prodigy.

News that a deal had been struck was first published by Brazilian sports site Esporte Interativo, which is known for breaking the story of Neymar’s transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017.

Citing “exclusive information,” it said details on the agreement and Neymar’s first promotional appearances for Puma were expected “in the coming days”.

Neymar had appeared to drop hints that a deal was close, said Esporte Interativo.

He recently followed Puma, PumaFootball and eight other accounts associated with the brand on Instagram, and posted a picture of himself Thursday with what appeared to be a statue of a puma in the background.

Agencies