'Neymar is essential, but not irreplaceable': Brazil boss Tite admits his side can manage without the PSG star... but suggests he makes the rest of side better with his unpredictability
- Neymar already has over 100 caps for Brazil and is third all-time top goalscorer
- Despite that, manager Tite believes he is 'essential but not irreplaceable' to team
- Neymar courted controversy this week by appearing to flout isolation rules
- He played a game of volleyball with his friends after flying home to Brazil
Brazil boss Tite claims that Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar is not 'essential' to the success of the country's national team.
The 28-year-old has already made over 100 international appearances, helping his country win the Confederations Cup and an Olympic gold on home turf.
But, while Tite believes that he is an 'essential' part of the team, he is not the be-all and end-all of Brazilian football.
![Neymar is already Brazil's third highest scorer of all-time and has over 100 international caps](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/06/26616594-8170549-image-a-1_1585631531621.jpg)
Neymar is already Brazil's third highest scorer of all-time and has over 100 international caps
![Despite that, the country's manager Tite believes he is not 'irreplaceable' to his team](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/06/26616592-8170549-image-a-3_1585631542158.jpg)
Despite that, the country's manager Tite believes he is not 'irreplaceable' to his team
'Neymar reassures you, because he brings unpredictability to your game,' the Brazil head coach told France Football.
'Because he will offer you an individual or collective solution that others cannot, and with him, the potential of a team is not the same, because he will sparkle. The Neymar I am speaking of is the one who was within full mental and physical capacities.
'Neymar is essential, but not irreplaceable.'
![Tite did reserve some praise for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar, labelling him 'essential'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/09/26616604-8170549-Tite_did_reserve_some_praise_for_the_Paris_Saint_Germain_superst-a-9_1585643019998.jpg)
Tite did reserve some praise for the Paris Saint-Germain superstar, labelling him 'essential'
![Neymar is back in Brazil and posted a picture of himself playing beach volleyball](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/09/26585760-8170549-Neymar_is_back_in_Brazil_and_posted_a_picture_of_himself_playing-a-10_1585643020017.jpg)
Neymar is back in Brazil and posted a picture of himself playing beach volleyball
The PSG star is already third in the Selecao's all-time top goalscorer list, behind Pele and Ronaldo on 61 goals.
This week, though, he has courted controversy after apparently flouting the coronavirus isolation instructions to play a game of beach volleyball in Brazil.
The forward hit back after receiving criticism, later denying he had breached government protocol.
![The Brazil international was surrounded by friends at his residence in his homeland](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/09/26585750-8170549-The_Brazil_international_was_surrounded_by_friends_at_his_reside-a-11_1585643020027.jpg)
The Brazil international was surrounded by friends at his residence in his homeland
![Neymar's media manager insisted that coronavirus distancing protocols were adhered to](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/03/31/09/26585754-8170549-Neymar_s_media_manager_insisted_that_coronavirus_distancing_prot-a-12_1585643020040.jpg)
Neymar's media manager insisted that coronavirus distancing protocols were adhered to
He released a statement through his communications manager, which read: 'The photo in question was published on Neymar's Instagram and shows him with other people who are in quarantine with him, people who live and travelled together from Paris to Brazil.
'Neymar offered his home to all of them so they could spend the first 14 days there before meeting up with their respective families.
'The house where the athlete is doing his quarantine is totally isolated and provides peace and serenity so he can continue training and looking after his loved ones at this time of world pain and confinement.'
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