‘Shy’ Chelsea transfer target Neymar tipped to succeed in new sport and bring along huge fanbase
NEYMAR has been tipped for a successful career after football once he hangs up his boots.
The PSG star, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea in recent weeks, came under fire last week over his off-pitch activities.
The 31-year-old was spotted at a poker tournament and later at a McDonald's only hours after PSG's first-leg Champions League home defeat to Bayern Munich.
But poker pros believe he might well have a future in the card game after he left them impressed with his ability.
Players at the European Poker Tour spoke to about Neymar - who eventually finished 49th in that tournament - potentially making the switch.
Poker professional Julien Sitbon expressed his excitement for the idea.
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He said: "We’re talking about Neymar what! The notoriety he has…
"Every time he is on a trip, there are bodyguards and people who are there to watch out for him.
“He’s someone who plays a lot of hands, so I would describe him as rather aggressive. Afterwards, I didn’t play him enough to know if he was aggressive or passive, but he plays a lot of hands.
“But I think he is focused because he is a competitor. In everything he does he wants to be good. He likes poker, sure, so I think he’s trying to be focused to perform as well as possible."
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Fellow competitor Thomas Eychenne said he thinks Neymar's football experience can help, but surprisingly branded the Brazilian "shy" and "introverted".
He said: "He has the potential. He has the mind of a competitor because he played at the highest level in football.
"I found him rather introverted. He is not someone who will talk a lot and be very open. But I can understand it, he is extremely in demand.
“I will say that he is someone who is shy in his appearance. In the sense that he tries not to be seen too much.”
Kylian Mbappe appeared to criticise his teammate as he told journalists that PSG stars had to "eat and sleep well" following the McDonald's pictures.
But he denied that the jibe was aimed at Neymar.
Chelsea are one of a number of clubs linked to the ex-Barcelona forward, who is now in his seventh year in Paris.