Edinson Cavani turns down €1m bonus to give up penalty duties to Neymar at PSG

Cavani and Neymar were involved in a penalty dispute in a 2-0 win against Olympic Lyon

Edinson Cavani-Neymar
Reuters

Edinson Cavani's feud with Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar has escalated after the Uruguayan rejected €1m to pass on penalty duties, according to reports in Spain.

Spanish publication El Pais claims that Cavani was offered the payment, which amounts to the bonus he would receive should he finish as the club's top goalscorer in Ligue 1 this season, but the striker has snubbed the offer.

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Cavani, according to El Pais, is not interested in being given extra money, and is refusing to change his stance on being the penalty taker, believing that as the club's third captain in line, he has responsibilities he must shoulder.

In a bid to settle the dispute and avoid a looming crisis at the Parc des Princes, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is believed to have approached the Uruguayan international with an incredible offer in the hope that he would allow Neymar to take set-pieces.

The two forwards, who combined cost the French giants an eye-watering £253m, had seemed to be striking up a potent partnership after the Brazilian's world-record move from Barcelona this summer.

But L'Equipe reported after the incident that the pair had to be kept apart in the dressing room and while manager Unai Emery has said he will intervene should they row again, it has now been reported that the issue is yet to be resolved.

Speaking about the issue last week, PSG boss Emery said: "I have told them to sort it out between themselves," as reported by the Metro.

"I think that they are capable of doing that and that they will both be our kickers. If they cannot reach an agreement, I will decide for them. I do not want this to become a problem for us."

The Spanish daily claim the PSG squad are backing Cavani on the matter, with the 30-year-old designated as the club's penalty taker before Neymar's arrival.

His subsequent miss against Lyon could jeopardise his position despite the exceptional circumstances surrounding the spot-kick, but it is his unwillingness to meet his club's offer that threatens to create a divide within the camp, with the club keen to put the issue to bed.

PSG, currently unbeaten in the league and one point clear of Monaco, produced their worst performance of the season with a 0-0 draw away to Montpellier.

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