Edinson Cavani must adapt to playing second fiddle to Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain, following a public disagreement over who should take a penalty in Sunday's match against Lyon. The incident, which saw Neymar and Cavani argue over spot-kick responsibilities, has highlighted tensions within the PSG squad.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, the dispute continued in the dressing room after the game. Neymar reportedly passed to Cavani only twice during the match, while Cavani did not pass to Neymar at all. This contrasts sharply with Neymar's previous partnership with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, where the two shared responsibilities amicably.
Johan Cruyff had predicted trouble when Neymar joined Messi at Barcelona in 2013, saying, 'I wouldn't put two captains on the same boat.' However, the duo proved him wrong, with Messi often allowing Neymar to take penalties and free-kicks. In a 6-0 win over Cordoba in 2015, Messi let Neymar take a penalty despite being on a hat-trick.
At PSG, Neymar has the support of several Brazilian teammates, including former Barcelona colleague Dani Alves, who took the ball off Cavani to give it to Neymar for a free-kick. Cavani's failure to adapt to Neymar's dominant role has led to friction, with the Uruguayan seemingly unwilling to cede authority to the £198 million signing.
