Neymar says he always wants to give something back to adoring fans after handing shirt to kid

NEYMAR said he will always try and give something back to adoring fans.

The Brazil star, 26, handed his shirt to a young fan who ran on to the pitch as he was substituted in Paris Saint-Gemain’s 3-1 win over Rennes.

Neymar handed his shirt to a young pitch invader as he was substituted

The Paris Saint-Germain stay insisted he always wants to give something back to adoring fans

He came off in injury time and was replaced by youngster Christopher Nkunku but appeared unhappy to be taken off.

Neymar said: “I am happy with the affection I receive when playing away, even more when it’s from a kid, it’s more natural, it’s something very pure, so whenever I can I will do everything to return the affection I receive.

“They even thought I asked to wait a little, but no.

“I went to apologise for the wrong pass I gave to Thomas [Meunier].

Neymar was replaced by youngster Christopher Nkunku as PSG won 3-1 at Rennes

He said it is even more special to be able to give his shirt to a kid, insisting it is “natural” and “very pure”

“Of course, no player likes to leave the game, but now this isn’t the case for me to be angry at having left the pitch today, it’s even good for me to recover for the next game.”

Thomas Tuchel took over from Unai Emery as PSG manager this summer and has deployed his star man in various positions, but seems to prefer Neymar in a central role.

But Neymar insists he is happy to follow Tuchel’s instructions and recognises the strength in depth of PSG’s attack.

Neymar added: “In the middle there are even more players than on the flanks. It was our coach’s strategy.

The teary young fan was led away by security but held on to the jersey

Neymar celebrates with goalscorer Angel Di Maria who equalised for the French champions

“And he thinks I have the quality to play in the middle, and he put me there and we turned the game around.

“I think it’s because of the players we have in our team. Di Maria, Kylian [Mbappe] and other players that play on the wings.

“And he sees that I have the quality to play in the middle. I’ve played like that in Santos, in Barcelona, so for me, it’s not a problem at all.

“The relationship [with Tuchel] is good. He is a young coach who has his way of playing, of training, and we really like how he trains and talks to the players, and I hope that with his work we can have a great season.”