Neymar: Brazil want PSG star to captain Olympic team in Tokyo
The CBF has initiated contact with PSG about the possibility of taking Neymar to the Games, but the Parisians may also lose Mbappé this summer.
The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) has initiated talks with PSG over the possibility of taking Neymar to the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, which may not go down terribly well in the offices of the Parc des Princes with Kylian Mbappé also intent on representing France at the 2020 Olympics.
Brazil are also keen to take Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Reinier to Tokyo but the jewel in the crown of CBF president Rogerio Caboclo is Neymar, who put away the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Germany at the Games in Rio in 2016 to hand the Canarinha the title. However, the PSG star is also keen on playing at the Copa América in Colombia and Argentina this summer, which runs from 12 June to 12 July. The Olympic football tournament takes place between 22 July and 8 August.
PSG's Neymar and Mbappé Olympics conundrum
Another issue for Brazil is that Kylian Mbappé is desperate to play for France at the Olympics, which come hot on the heels of Euro 2020. The continental tournament runs from 12 June to 12 July, the same dates as the Copa América.
If PSG allow both of their star forwards to play in both tournaments there would be obvious issues concerning injuries and burnout, not to mention the fact that neither would be available for the start of the Ligue 1 season if Brazil and France were to contest the final in Tokyo, with the domestic season starting a day earlier on 7 August.