Brazilian football star Neymar has disclosed that his former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Kylian Mbappé, became “jealous” of his bond with Lionel Messi after the Argentine joined the French club in 2021.
Speaking during a podcast hosted by former Brazilian striker Romario, Neymar attributed the superstar trio’s struggles at PSG to ego clashes, which prevented them from fully realizing their potential as a team.
Neymar, now 32 and playing for Saudi club Al-Hilal since 2023, reflected on his early relationship with Mbappé, describing it as cordial and supportive when the Frenchman joined PSG in 2017.
“I had my issues with him; we had a little fight, but he was a boy who, at the beginning, when he arrived, was fundamental. I always told him, I joked with him, that he was going to be one of the best. I always helped him, I talked to him. He came to my house, and we went out to dinner together,” Neymar recounted.
However, the dynamic changed with Messi’s arrival from Barcelona in 2021. Neymar noted that Mbappé’s attitude shifted, possibly due to envy.
“We spent some good years together, but then, when Messi arrived, I think he got a little jealous. He didn’t want to share me with anyone, and then the fights began, the change of behavior,” Neymar said.
The Brazilian star further explained that individual egos within the squad hindered their collective success.
“You have to realize that you don’t play alone. You have to have the others on your side: ‘I’m the best, OK,’ but who’s going to give you the ball? You have to have good people who give you the ball. It was everyone’s ego… so it couldn’t work. Nowadays, if nobody runs, if nobody helps each other, it’s impossible to win,” he stated.
When asked about his future plans amid rumors of a potential move back to Brazil or Major League Soccer, Neymar remained noncommittal. While acknowledging his happiness in Saudi Arabia, he hinted at the possibility of change.
“In six months, everything can change,” he said, referencing his struggles with injuries that have limited his appearances to a few games in 16 months.
Neymar’s comments have reignited discussions about the challenges of assembling star-studded squads and the importance of team chemistry in achieving success.
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