At the kick-off of the 28th day match of La Liga against Osasuna (7-0), Gerardo Martino opted for Pedro over Neymar and Alexis Sanchez to flank Lionel Messi in attack. Neymar, the Brazilian winger, remained sidelined throughout the game, a decision that seemed to appease the Madrid press.
Despite being called to warm up by the Argentinian coach, Neymar watched as Christian Tello took his place on the Camp Nou turf towards the end of the match. Returning to the bench, the 22-year-old struggled to conceal his frustration. This morning, the Madrid press eagerly dissected images of Neymar nervously biting his nails on the sidelines, interpreting it as a sign of his impatience.
Martino’s selection for the upcoming clasico against Real Madrid will be telling of the trust he places in the former FC Santos player. In Madrid, discussions swirl around what is being dubbed “the second Neymar affair,” following the controversies surrounding his initial transfer.
