Rangers star called “dead meat” by stunned spectators following Neymar incident.

Rangers winger Djeidi Gassama has shared a memorable story from his time in Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, recalling the moment he unexpectedly got the better of Neymar during a training session and immediately became the centre of attention among some of the club’s biggest stars.

The 22-year-old, who now represents Rangers, came through the youth ranks at PSG, where he had the opportunity to train alongside several world-class players. During that period, he found himself regularly sharing sessions with members of the senior squad, including Brazilian icon Neymar and Argentine legend Lionel Messi.

Looking back on one particular training exercise, Gassama admitted that a split-second decision to try something bold against Neymar produced an unforgettable reaction from everyone watching.

The session involved a traditional rondo drill, where players stand in a circle and attempt to keep possession while one or more players in the middle try to win the ball back. Once the team in possession successfully completed five passes, the player or players in the middle had to swap places with those on the outside.

According to Gassama, several groups were taking part in the exercise at the same time. One of those circles included a number of South American stars, among them Messi and Neymar, making the atmosphere even more competitive.

As the drill progressed, Gassama’s group managed to regain possession, and Neymar stepped into the middle to try to win the ball back. With the required five passes nearly completed, the Rangers winger spotted an opportunity to attempt something daring.

Instead of simply playing a safe pass, Gassama tried to slip the ball through Neymar’s legs with a nutmeg. The move came off successfully, and because his team had already completed the required number of passes, Neymar had to leave the middle of the circle.

The skill immediately caught the attention of everyone nearby.

Gassama recalled that the South American players reacted instantly after seeing what had happened. Their response made it clear they believed Neymar would not let the moment pass without seeking some kind of revenge.

“They were all saying, ‘Oh la la, you tried to nutmeg him? You’re dead meat,'” Gassama remembered with a smile.

The young winger explained that Neymar fixed his eyes on him after the incident, while Gassama simply laughed along with the other players enjoying the moment.

Although the training drill soon continued, the episode clearly stayed on Neymar’s mind long after the session had ended.

Later, when the players gathered in the dressing room following training, Neymar approached Gassama to remind him that he had not forgotten what had happened on the training pitch.

The Brazilian jokingly warned the youngster that he should not expect to get away with such a move again.

According to Gassama, Neymar said, “You think I forgot or what? You’re lucky we were on the same team. Next time, I’m going to tackle you hard.”

The exchange gave Gassama a new appreciation for Neymar’s competitive personality.

He admitted the conversation showed him just how seriously the Brazilian took moments like that, even in training.

Reflecting on the experience, Gassama explained that Neymar has an intense mentality and does not easily brush off situations that challenge him on the football pitch.

He said it became obvious that once something irritated Neymar, he treated it personally and looked for an opportunity to respond the next time they faced each other in action.

Despite the playful nature of the exchange, Gassama could tell there was genuine competitive fire behind Neymar’s words.

The Rangers winger also revealed that several teammates continued teasing him after the incident, warning him that his problems were only beginning if he ended up facing Neymar in another exercise later in the session.

They jokingly predicted that the Brazilian would make sure to settle the score if the pair found themselves on opposite sides.

“They told me, ‘Just wait, you’re done for now. If he’s on the opposing team, you’re finished,'” Gassama recalled.

Fortunately for the Mauritanian international, events unfolded in his favour.

When the players were divided into teams for the next drill, Gassama discovered that he had been placed on Neymar’s side rather than against him.

That meant he avoided the physical response his teammates had warned him about and instead joined forces with the Brazilian.

The pairing proved successful, as their team went on to win the exercise.

Looking back now, Gassama remembers the incident as one of the most entertaining experiences from his development at Paris Saint-Germain.

Training every day alongside players widely regarded as among the best in world football offered invaluable lessons, but moments like the nutmeg on Neymar also created lasting memories that remain with him years later.

The story provides an insight into the competitive atmosphere that existed within PSG’s training sessions, where even simple drills were contested with remarkable intensity.

It also highlights Neymar’s fierce desire to win and his determination not to be embarrassed, even during practice.

At the same time, Gassama’s willingness to attempt an audacious piece of skill against one of football’s biggest stars demonstrated the confidence he possessed as a young academy player eager to test himself against elite opposition.

While the incident was ultimately taken in good spirits, it left such an impression that both Gassama and Neymar remembered it long after the training session had ended.

Now establishing himself at Rangers, Gassama can look back on that memorable encounter with a smile, knowing he once managed to nutmeg one of the game’s greatest talents in front of Messi and a host of other international stars before escaping any real punishment thanks to being placed on Neymar’s team for the next challenge.