In an insightful interview on a podcast hosted by former Brazil striker Romario, Neymar delved into the dynamics of his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), specifically addressing the relationship between him, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi during their spell together at the French club.
Neymar explained that while his initial bond with Mbappé was positive, with the French forward becoming an integral part of PSG since joining in 2017, things began to change when Messi made the move to PSG from Barcelona in 2021.
Neymar said that his relationship with Messi, formed during their successful years at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, was already strong, and he welcomed the opportunity to play with Messi again at PSG. However, he noticed a shift in Mbappé’s behavior once Messi joined the squad.
Neymar revealed that Mbappé became “a little jealous” of the attention Messi received, and this led to tensions between the two French stars. He said, “He didn’t want to share me with anyone, and then the fights began, the change of behavior.”
The Brazilian forward attributed the trio’s inability to reach their full potential on the field to a lack of teamwork and ego clashes. He emphasized that despite having individual talent, players need to collaborate to achieve success.
“You have to realize that you don’t play alone. You have to have the others on your side,” Neymar explained. “It was everyone’s ego… so it couldn’t work. Nowadays, if nobody runs, if nobody helps each other, it’s impossible to win.”
Reflecting on the failed potential of PSG’s star-studded trio, Neymar also highlighted the importance of good teamwork and mutual support among players. He noted that individual brilliance could only take a team so far, and without players willing to work for each other, it was always going to be difficult to succeed.
Despite the challenges, Neymar clarified that his time at PSG wasn’t all negative and that he and Mbappé had initially enjoyed a solid relationship, even jokingly predicting that Mbappé would become one of the best players in the world.
Neymar also mentioned how the pair would often hang out outside of football, with Mbappé visiting his house and the two sharing meals together. However, the arrival of Messi seemed to disrupt that chemistry.
Now at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar also addressed the rumors surrounding his future, stating that while he was content in Saudi Arabia, things could change in the next six months.
Neymar’s career has been marred by injuries since moving to Saudi Arabia, playing just a handful of games in the 16 months following his move.
Nonetheless, he expressed satisfaction with his current situation while acknowledging the unpredictability of football.
