Sao Paulo: Neymar's father spoke out at what he called the "vultures" circling his son, in an apparent reference to criticism of the Paris St Germain striker's less than stellar performance in Wednesday's loss to Real Madrid.

Neymar was widely criticised as being ineffective during Real's 3-1 win over PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu.

"In a war there are those who feed off victories and those who, like vultures, feed off the carcasses of the defeated," Neymar's father, who also acts as the player's agent, wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of his son.

"They do nothing, they produce nothing, they live off the limelight or more often, off the struggles of their 'prey'. In the football world we know these people as showing 'vulture behaviour'.

"Sometimes they take advantage of a loud microphone, of a mediocre 'playing' career (it is not right to refer to those, who at the very least act questionably off the field, as 'athletes') and are always in the shadow of others who are more talented, to vent their frustrations.

"They take advantage of a defeat, a lost battle, to begin the hunt - waiting for defeat in the war to feed their egos, like vultures feed off carrion. They will never win an Olympics in Rio, but there they are waiting for the first chance to show their mean spirits. "But remember: We lost a battle, not the war," Neymar Sr's message read.

He was nevertheless adamant that PSG can qualify for the quarter finals with a win in second leg of the tie in Paris on March 6.

"My son's 'war' has been going on since he was a kid, always fighting the good fight, always dodging the vultures, always being reborn stronger! And most of all, respecting everybody, even the vultures.

"We lost a battle. But we'll still keep coming back because the war will go on as long as he is on the pitch. And be sure of this... Like a phoenix he will be reborn, ready for whatever battle lies ahead!

"Maybe you, the vulture, will go hungry. And you can go ahead and eat your words, as rotten as carrion," Neymar's father said further.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's hopes of signing Neymar this summer have been dashed after PSG stated that it would be "impossible" for their superstar to leave. Rumors have been growing in recent weeks that Real wish to poach the ex-Barcelona forward away from Paris and lure him back to La Liga after being only 12 months away from Spain.

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi insisted that Neymar would not be leaving Parc de Princes once the current season ends even if Real offered massive money<"><">. Agencies