Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 6y

Real Madrid's luring of Neymar 'not very nice for' Ronaldo - Henrique

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Antero Henrique has suggested Real Madrid president Florentino Perez's attempts to lure Neymar to the Santiago Bernabeu risk unsettling Cristiano Ronaldo.

After Madrid star Ronaldo won his fifth Ballon d'Or earlier this month, Perez said that PSG's Neymar would have a better chance of winning the award if he were playing for the Spanish side.

Speaking with Le Parisien, the first time he has granted an interview with the French media since his arrival in Paris in June, Henrique addressed Perez's comments.

He said: "Talking about a player from another club on the same day Cristiano Ronaldo picked up his fifth Ballon d'Or was not very nice for his own player..."

Former Barcelona player Neymar has been linked with a move to Madrid, with reports claiming that the forward is using PSG as a stop-gap to enable him to swap rival La Liga clubs.

But Henrique, who said he is very happy with Neymar's first few months in Paris, was unequivocal about the lack of truth in speculation he could already be working on a future move to Madrid.

Asked about the Madrid rumours, he said: "No. Because Neymar is happy. He loves the club and is doing very well here. It is not a question of money, it is a question of stability. Neymar has accepted our vision. He is very ambitious and PSG offered him the space to work on these ambitions."

PSG currently find themselves faced with the challenge of convincing UEFA that they have adhered to financial fair play rules when signing Neymar, as well as Kylian Mbappe.

Henrique, though, said he is unconcerned by the situation and more annoyed at La Liga president Javier Tebas' constant sniping in the media that he is worried about the legality of PSG's transfer dealings.

"I believe that in this case, the Spanish are applying a lot of pressure," he said. "The La Liga president is critical of Neymar's move. OK, then explain to us how Barcelona managed to purchase him in the first place back in 2013?

"How did Barca really pay for Neymar? We, here at PSG, do things in absolute legality, so we paid the minimum fee release clause [€222 million]."

Henrique, meanwhile, has backed Unai Emery and declared "200 percent" support for the club's coach.

Henrique addressed rumours that Emery is under pressure heading into the final six months of his current PSG contract.

He said: "No president and no player has ever claimed that Unai is not a great coach. None. In fact, everyone speaks of him in a very positive way.

"Unai is one of the best coaches in the world. As the president said earlier this season, we are 200 percent behind him -- 200 percent. We have no doubts over him and he has our full confidence."

Asked if Emery could be in trouble if PSG fail to overcome Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 and do not ultimately make the semifinals, Henrique said: "His contract is not a problem for him or for us at PSG. Everybody is very calm about it."

However, the former Porto vice-president added: "We are only in mid-December, so now is not the time to speak about this topic."

Henrique went on to play down the Edinson Cavani-Neymar penalty spat from earlier this season as "a lot of noise for nothing," instead of praising Emery's handling of the situation.

Regarding the January transfer window, Henrique played down the need for a new defensive midfielder to ease the strain on veteran Thiago Motta because the "efficient" Adrien Rabiot and Giovani Lo Celso.

The 49-year-old also praised Motta as "the best player in the world in his role" and a figure of influence who "corresponds perfectly with PSG's profile and style."

A source recently told ESPN FC that Fluminense midfielder Wendel is close to joining PSG in January, but although Henrique acknowledged that he knows the Brazilian "very well," he said that the player "will not come in Janaury."

He added: "If we decide to finalise this transfer, it will only be in July. For now, we have no pressing needs for the winter transfer window. However, opportunities can always arise."

Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore have both been linked with moves away from PSG in recent weeks but Henrique said both Argentina internationals are "very important" and that that "three parties" must be taken into account -- "PSG, the players and the market."

A source recently told ESPN FC of Beijing Guoan's interest in Lucas Moura, and Henrique conceded that he "cannot say if he will leave," but did clarify that "he has not asked anything of me" and that the Brazilian's current situation is the result of "the decision made by the coach."

He added that he is confident "an agreement will be reached very soon" for Hatem Ben Arfa to depart and that "no decision has been taken" regarding Goncalo Guedes, who is currently on loan at Valencia.

On the topic of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and rumours of PSG's interest, Henrique called the stories "untrue" and praised current No. 1 Alphonse Areola as "probably the future for France at international level."

Henrique also said a move for Napoli's Pepe Reina was close at the end of the summer transfer window but "did not get done."

However, he did clarify that it was not to replace Areola but to "release our second goalkeeper [Kevin Trapp] to enable him to get game time elsewhere."

^ Back to Top ^