São Paulo: Neymar, the 32-year-old Al-Hilal striker, recently opened up about the tensions that arose between him and his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé after Lionel Messi’s high-profile arrival at the French club in 2021. Speaking on a podcast hosted by Romário, the Brazilian star revealed that Mbappé exhibited signs of “jealousy” when Neymar began sharing the spotlight with Messi.
Neymar emphasized that while he and Mbappé had a strong partnership initially, Messi’s presence altered team dynamics. “Kylian isn’t annoying,” Neymar clarified. “We had our disagreements, but I always supported him and called him Golden Boy. He visited my house, we shared meals, and I always told him he’d be one of the best. However, after Messi joined, things changed. He didn’t like splitting my attention with anyone else, and that led to some disputes.”
Both Neymar and Mbappé joined PSG during its ambitious bid for a Champions League title, which remains elusive. Neymar acknowledged that while individual talent is essential, excessive egos hindered the team’s performance. “Egos are good to an extent, but teamwork is crucial. You can’t win alone; everyone has to contribute,” Neymar stated, without naming specific individuals.
Reflecting on his future, Neymar hinted at a possible return to Brazil after his current contract in Saudi Arabia ends later this year. Neither Messi nor Mbappé has commented on Neymar’s revelations, leaving fans to speculate on the dynamics that unfolded during their time together at PSG.
