No more red and white nights, tuxedo evenings.
No more parties until late at night in prestigious places in the capital.
No more lighting on the monuments of Paris to wish Neymar a happy birthday.
For the first time since signing for PSG in the summer of 2017, the Brazilian will not be able to celebrate his 29 years with great pomp on February 5.
The Covid-19 and the restrictions linked to the pandemic - foremost among which the curfew while perhaps awaiting a new containment - are right this year with these celebrations with red carpet, star (lette) s in glitter and cake of tiered anniversary.
None of his partners or usual guests this year received the famous box, a real sesame to enter the holy of holies.
Co-organizer of these anniversaries in 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Red Bull brand, sponsor of the player, which we requested, did not follow up.
That said, the fact that Neymar is deprived of a great celebration in Paris does not exclude him from organizing a party in his villa in Bougival (Yvelines).
We remember that last year, the Parisian striker first rented the Palais de Tokyo nightclub on February 2, before making a second appointment on February 5 - the night of his birthday - in his home for a private party.
And there were enough guests to have a good time.
An event always difficult to manage for PSG
Some friends of Parisian number 10 have already joined him at home, some of whom like Gustavo Almeida or Joao Celso Moraes live year round in Santos, Brazil.
His very close relationships usually participate in important and symbolic moments in the life and career of the star.
The latter were present for example during the signing of Neymar in Paris in the summer of 2017, and they regularly make the transatlantic trip for the birthdays of their lifelong friend.
Still, after the controversy aroused in his country by the information about his big New Year's Eve party (which he ultimately did not organize), Neymar was very discreet.
But the fact that the former Barcelona does not spend the night with the rest of the workforce this year is not to displease the club of the capital.
We will not go so far as to say that the Parisian leaders are relieved.
But for the past two years, the parties of their Brazilian prodigy had become a kind of pebble in the shoe they were struggling to get rid of.
Asked about these festivities, 48 hours from a match in Nantes, the former coach Thomas Tuchel had not masked his annoyance in February 2020. “It is my choice not to participate in the party, he said. .
It's a choice as a coach, it's not against Neymar personally.
I always protect my players, because I love my team.
But with the party, I accept that it is difficult to protect them.
I can't think of it for the composition of the team.
Can't start to think about who was there, what time did they go out, what time did they come in?
Is this the best way to prepare for a match?
Clearly no.
Is this the worst thing that can happen?
No more.
"
His attitude praised by the leaders
It must be said that the images widely relayed on social networks of an intoxicated Yuri Berchiche in 2018 did not plead for Neymar and his sense of celebration.
No more than those where he appeared on the stage of the Pavillon Gabriel, crutches in hand, after his second serious injury to his right foot, and eight days before his partners' trip to Manchester United in the Champions League in 2019. As of this that year, President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi decided not to set foot in these celebrations.
And last year, Leonardo the sports director also boycotted the meeting.
One way not to endorse an attitude tending to demonstrate that the Brazilian then placed himself above PSG and his interests.
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Today relations between the club and the Brazilian star have normalized, with a significant advance in discussions for an extension.
And internally, we more readily praise the irreproachable attitude and the implication of number 10 on the field and outside.
The fact remains that this year, Mauricio Pochettino will not have to pronounce publicly on Neymar's birthday.
And the Parisian coach, like his players, can only focus on the trip to Barcelona on February 16.