'Like vultures feed off carrion' - Neymar Sr. slams son's critics after PSG no-show

Neymar Sr. has slammed his son's critics after the Paris Saint-Germain star failed to live up to expectations in Wednesday's Champions League reverse to Real Madrid. 

The Brazilian showed glimpses of his best form in the 3-1 defeat, but was marshalled efficiently by Nacho as two late goals helped the Merengue over the finishing line. 

But according to his father, Neymar is dogged by people who are keen to see him fall, comparing his critics to "vultures" in a lengthy social media outburst. 

"In a war there are those who feed off victories and there are those who, like vultures, feed from the carrion of the defeated," Neymar Sr, who also acts as the player's agent, fired on Instagram. 

"They do nothing, they produce nothing, they live off the limelight or, more often, off the struggles of their 'prey'.

"In the football world we know these people as showing 'vulture behaviour'. Sometimes they take advantage of a loud microphone, of a mediocre 'playing' career (it is not right to call those who at the very least act questionably off the field 'athletes'), always in the shadow of others who are more talented, to vent their frustrations. 

"They take advantage of a defeat, a lost battle, to begin the hunt, waiting for defeat in the war to feed their egos, like vultures feed off carrion. 

"They will never win an Olympics in Rio, but there they are, waiting for the first chance to show their mean spirits.

"But remember: We lost a battle, not the war. My son's 'war' has been going on since he was a kid, always fighting the good fight, always dodging the vultures, always being reborn stronger!

 

Em uma "guerra" há os que se alimentam de vitórias e há os que, como os abutres, se alimentam da carniça dos derrotados. Nada fazem, nada produzem, vivem do brilho ou, com mais frequencia, de momentos difíceis de suas "presas". No universo do futebol conhecemos muitas pessoas com "comportamento de abutre". Por vezes se aproveitam de um microfone forte, de uma carreira de "jogador" (não dá para chamarmos de "atleta" alguém com comportamentos no mínimo questionáveis fora dos gramados) sem muito brilho, sempre a sombra de outros mais talentosos, para destilar suas frustrações. Aproveitam uma derrota, uma BATALHA perdida, para ficarem a espreita, aguardando a derrota na guerra, para alimentarem seus egos, como os abutres se alimentam de carniça. Não conseguiram nas Olimpíadas do Rio, mas ficaram ali, aguardando a primeira oportunidade, para trazer seu mau agouro. Mas lembrem-se: Perdemos uma batalha, não a guerra. A guerra de meu filho ele "pratica" desde muito jovem, sempre praticando o bom combate, sempre escapando dos abutres, sempre renascendo ainda mais forte !! E, principalmente, respeitando a todos, até mesmo os abutres... Perdemos uma batalha, quanto a guerra, veremos, porque ela durará enquanto ele estiver nos gramados. E tenham certeza... como uma fênix ele renascerá, preparado para quantos combates vierem pela frente! Quanto a você, abutre, ficará com fome. E restará engolir suas palavras, tão podres quanto a carniça. . @neymarjr @rafaella @jotaamancio @davilucca @nadine.goncalves

A post shared by Neymar Pai (@neymarpai_) on Feb 15, 2018 at 11:41am PST

"And most of all, respecting everybody, even the vultures. We lost a battle, maybe the war, we will see, because it will go on as long as he is on the pitch. 

"And be sure of this... like a phoenix he will be reborn, ready for whatever battle lies ahead! 

"Maybe you, the vulture, will go hungry. And you can go ahead and eat your words, as rotten as carrion." 

Neymar and PSG will get their shot at redemption on March 6, when they welcome Madrid to Parc des Princes for the second leg of their round of 16 tie.