PSG star Neymar returns to Brazil as rumours of discontent continue - but could latest controversy provoke ire of Paris club?

PSG star Neymar has returned to Brazil amid suggestions the former Barcelona star is unhappy with life in France.

Neymar, 25, will miss the Ligue 1 leaders’ clash with Strasbourg on Wednesday – a Coupe de la Ligue encounter – after the club gave him permission to return home.

Confirming the news before the cup tie, manager Unai Emery revealed his marquee man was allowed time off due to family reasons, which will see him miss the club’s Christmas dinner.

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“He called me on Saturday morning to tell me he had an important thing in his family and asked me if the club and I agreed to let him go to Brazil,” Emery said. “It was important for him.

“The human element is important, sometimes the work goes into the background.”

Neymar was banned for last weekend’s tie against Lille, which the Paris club won 3-1.

According to France newspaper L’Equipe, Neymar’s sister, Rafaella, was the main reason for his return home.

After Yahoo Sport revealed he had been requesting time away from PSG in November, a club spokesperson had said: “PSG does not give any preferential treatment to anyone. It is the coach and only the coach who decides on the composition of his team.”

But Neymar could be in hot water with PSG after a new round of social media posts emerged suggesting that the most expensive player in the world was celebrating at a birthday party.

He was snapped in a post just three days ago, next to Reinaldo’s father, Guilherme Pitta, with a caption reading: “Thanks for the visit, you’re still the same guy, that’s why you’re loved, thank you Neymar, a great gift to receive you at my party.”

The forward, who moved from Barcelona last summer for €222m, has bagged 16 goals for club and country this season.

He has figured prominently in a PSG attack featuring Edinson Cavani and Monaco’s on-loan wonderkid Kylian Mbappe.

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But the prolific attacker has been involved in several incidents at the club, including a high-profile rift with Cavani over set-piece duty.

The constant noises suggest discontent and he has been linked with a dramatic switch back to Spain – with Barcelona’s fierce rivals Real Madrid.

If the club decide they are unhappy with his latest conduct, it could push the Brazilian one step closer to the exit door – and potentially a move to the Bernabeu.