Neymar will never get love like Messi if he keeps up his nonsense says Celtic defender Mikael Lustig

Hoops defender believes PSG superstar needs to stop over-reacting and get on with the game if he wants to claim the same adoration as his former Barcelona team-mate.

ByGordon Parks   SEP 14, 2017

Mikael Lustig last night told sneaky Neymar he’ll never be loved like Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

The Celtic defender believes the Brazilian’s diving and his refusal to shake hands with kid Anthony Ralston show why the 25-year-old struggles to win over punters.

PSG’s five-goal hammering of the Hoops on Tuesday underlined their tag as Champions League contenders but Lustig insists Neymar will never win hearts and minds like Messi after being booked for simulation and disregarding the full-time pleasantries.

The Swede, who also clashed with Neymar in his days at Barcelona, said: “It was the same as usual from Neymar. He is an unbelievable footballer but we have seen the other stuff before and we will see it again.

“I have said before that it’s part of his game.

“He tries to over-react a bit to make the defender step off. We will see it again and again.

“If he wants to be liked as much as Messi, maybe he needs to stop that.”

“He’s up there with the best already – he’s so sharp and is an amazing footballer.

“Neymar is probably the toughest opponent in the world right now but Anthony did well.”

Lustig, who switched from full-back into the centre of defence, insists PSG are the best side he has faced in Glasgow.

He said: “PSG are probably up there with the very best teams I have faced.

“They have world-class players in every position.

“They are probably better than Barcelona last year with no weak links.

“Every single player is unbelievable on the ball.

“If you spend a lot of money, it is no shock you will have a team like that.

“But we were poor in the first half. We didn’t look like ourselves.

“Is it impossible to bridge that gap? You need a bit of luck with the chances you get.”

Lustig deflected a late Julian Draxler cross into his own net to compound a miserable night for Celtic but the 30-year-old believes Europe this season starts for real against Anderlecht in Brussels in a fortnight.

He said: “The games with Anderlecht are key.

“Against PSG, if we have a bad day and they have a good day, then that result happens.

“It has happened before when we’ve played against top teams.”