The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Neymar suffering a season-ending ankle injury is an ‘amazing stroke of luck’ for Paris Saint-Germain, former World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry has claimed in a scathing assessment of the Brazilian winger.
The PSG forward was carried off on a stretcher in tears during his side’s 4-3 win over Lille last month, and it has since been confirmed that the £198million man will be out for the remainder of the campaign.
Neymar must now undergo surgery to repair the ligaments torn in his ankle.
Dugarry, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, sensationally celebrated the Brazilian’s injury, insisting the French champions were better off without their record signing.
Forced to alter his team without Neymar, PSG boss Christophe Galtier lined up with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in a 3-5-2 formation against Ligue 1 title rivals Marseille and subsequently cruised to a confident 3-0 victory.
Neymar’s season-ending injury is an ‘amazing stroke of luck’ for PSG, says Christophe Dugarry
The World Cup winner insisted Neymar is ‘insufferable’ and that PSG are better off without him
The French champions went on to beat Nantes 4-2 on Saturday, with both Mbappe and Messi finding the scoresheet again.
Impressed by PSG’s new-look line-up without the Brazilian, Dugarry told RMC Sport: ‘I’m happy for PSG that Neymar is injured. I think this is an incredible opportunity, an amazing stroke of luck for Christophe Galtier.
‘The team is much more balanced with five defenders, three midfielders and Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi up front.’
Dugarry added: ‘I can’t bear to see him anymore, I can’t stand him anymore.
‘I find him insufferable in his dribbling and with that attitude. I don’t want to see him on the field anymore, I’m tired.’
However, stretched thin in the absence of Neymar, Galtier’s squad lacks depth in attacking areas, with only 20-year-old striker Hugo Ekitike to cover for Messi or Mbappe should either superstar pick up an injury.
The Brazilian forward went off on a stretcher in tears during PSG’s 4-3 win over Lille last month
