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Watch: Neymar moved to tears as Brazil coach Tite defends PSG star

NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP / Getty

Neymar couldn't mask his emotions Friday after Brazil coach Tite defended the beleaguered star, who has been at the centre of rampant speculation because of his reported discontent at Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar has been portrayed as a figure who is struggling to settle in with the capital-city outfit since the notorious penalty debacle with teammate Edinson Cavani. Reports suggest he is eager to return to Barcelona despite completing a world-record transfer this past summer.

Tite came to Neymar's defence after Brazil's 3-1 win over Japan, describing the 25-year-old as a "great guy." As Tite spoke, a visibly emotional Neymar leaned over to embrace his manager before leaving the news conference and wiping away tears.

Neymar also professed his desire to remain with PSG and accused members of the media of fabricating stories intended to cause tension with teammates and manager Unai Emery.

"I am doing well, happy and very motivated to win with PSG and to be a player who gives his all on the pitch," he said, according to Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC. "And that has been making the (journalists) uncomfortable. They are making up a lot of stories that just are not true.

"They are saying that I don't get along with Cavani or with my coach. But it is very much the contrary. I came to help them out."

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