Paris Saint-Germain’s French Super Cup celebrations were overshadowed after Kylian Mbappe appeared to push wantaway star Neymar out of the team photo.
Angel Di Maria scored the winner with a spectacular free-kick and Mbappe was also on target as the Ligue 1 champions recovered to beat Rennes 2-1 in Shenzhen on Saturday.
The French giants claimed the success without injured Neymar, who is desperate to quit the club this summer and seal a return to former club Barcelona .
Neymar was still able to collect a winner’s medal before team-mate Marco Verratti dragged him into the squad celebrations on the pitch.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
The Brazilian looked awkward and uncomfortable, seemingly reluctant to take centre stage.
Moments later, with Verratti on the deck, Neymar was shoved away from the group by Mbappe – as other players continued to celebrate.
Footage appeared on social media showing the incident, with Mbappe not exactly his usual smiling sense during the exchange; it will only fuel speculation that Neymar’s situation has caused something of a divide in the dressing room.
Despite the ongoing saga, PSG showed that life without Neymar may not to be too bad after all following their triumph over their French rivals.
Adrien Hunou had given the French Cup winners the lead despite PSG’s dominance in the first half and Thomas Tuchel’s side eventually earned the victory their superiority deserved thanks to the second-half goals from Mbappe and Di Maria.
PSG’s seventh succcessive Super Cup win is a record – eclipsing the six won by Lyon from 2002-2006.
And it means they will start the defence of their Ligue 1 title in high spirits despite doubts over the future of playmaker Neymar.
The 27-year-old Brazil forward, who has been linked with a return to Barcelona, was watching the match from the stands of the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre stadium, before heading down to the pitch post-game.
