The Neymar saga is becoming farcical

The press conference given by Gerard Piqué and Mascherano in Washington should make Barça pause for thought. The first people to publicly admit there is a problem with Neymar were two first team players. We’ve gone from Jordi Mestre’s “200%” to Piqué and Masche’s almost funereal tone.

Piqué contradicted his tweet – it was a personal wish and the tweet was sent in a relaxed moment, it was not official. All this in a muted, head-down tone. He seemed to know he had undone the only injection of positivity the fans had had. He also explained the possible causes of Neymar’s unhappiness and what he had said to Neymar.

The club has finally recognised the problem when it tweeted the players’ answers to the press’ questions. There’s no way back, there is a problem. The speculation has ended, the accusations of smoke and mirrors, and the accusations that those reporting the 'Neymar case’ wanted the player to leave must also end.

It’s time to put pressure on the Brazilian to decide, an entire season’s planning – on and off the pitch – cannot be left pending one player’s decision. The 'Neymar case’ is becoming farcical. It’s down to the player and the club to fix the situation and explain what should have been explained a long time ago.