That’s one way to become a fan favourite at Barcelona.
Paulinho may have won himself a few more fans in Catalonia after he left Neymar requiring medical attention after a late foul in training.
Brazil’s No10’s popularity in Barcelona nosedived after he agreed to join PSG in a world record deal earlier this year.
The foul appeared fairly innocuous but Neymar was forced to sit out for a while as Brazil’s medical team tended to his foot.
The superstar forward already had a strapped toe prior to the incident.
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Nobody likes to see a player seriously injured but there are certainly a few Barca fans who won’t mind thier new midfield wrecking ball leaving a bit on Neymar after the events of the summer.
Brazil have already qualified for Russia 2018 having lost only one of their 16 qualifiers.
The most successful nation in international football history are guaranteed to finish top of the group, with Uruguay ten points behind in second place ahead of final two matchdays.
As is stands either one of Lionel Messi or Alexis Sanchez looks set to miss next year’s World Cup with Argentina and Chile struggling in fifth and sixth respectively.
Only the top teams in South American qualifying automatically secure their spots in the tournament.
Whoever finishes fifth must then win a play-off against New Zealand.
