Brazilian star Neymar shared new insights into his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), shedding light on dynamics within the team following Lionel Messi’s arrival in August 2021. Speaking on a podcast hosted by fellow World Cup winner Romário, Neymar revealed that his former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé became “a little jealous” when Messi joined the club on a free transfer.
Neymar, now playing for Saudi club Al-Hilal, explained that while he had a strong relationship with Mbappé initially, Messi’s arrival led to tension:
“He didn’t want to split me with anyone. And then there were some fights, a change in behavior,” Neymar said, referring to Mbappé. Despite these challenges, Neymar maintained that Mbappé was instrumental to the team and described him as a “golden boy.”
The Struggles at PSG
Neymar also touched on the difficulties PSG faced in their quest for Champions League success, attributing the struggles to “big egos” within the squad. He emphasized that while confidence is important, teamwork is essential for success:
“It is good to have egos, but you have to know that you don’t play alone. There needs to be another guy by your side. If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything.”
Both Neymar and Mbappé joined PSG with massive expectations—Neymar from Barcelona in 2017 and Mbappé from Monaco later that same year—as the club sought its first Champions League title, which remains elusive.
Looking Ahead
Neymar’s comments come as Mbappé has moved on to Real Madrid, while Messi now plays for Inter Miami in MLS. Neymar himself hinted at the possibility of returning to Brazil after his current contract in Saudi Arabia ends later this year.
Neither Mbappé nor Messi has responded publicly to Neymar’s remarks, leaving fans to speculate about the dynamics behind the scenes at PSG during their time together.
The revelations add another layer to the narrative surrounding PSG’s star-studded squad and their unfulfilled Champions League ambitions.
