Brazilian football star Neymar recently opened up about his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and revealed some surprising details about his former teammate Kylian Mbappe. According to Neymar, Mbappe felt “jealous” of Lionel Messi after the Argentine joined the club in 2021.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by Brazilian legend Romario, Neymar reflected on his relationship with Mbappe, who now plays for Real Madrid. When asked if Mbappe was “annoying,” Neymar dismissed the idea but admitted they had occasional conflicts.
“No, he’s not annoying,” Neymar said. “We had some disagreements, but he was very important to the team when he arrived. I used to call him Golden Boy because of his talent.
“I always supported him and told him he could become one of the best. We spent good times together, even having dinners at my house. But after Messi joined, Mbappe became a bit jealous. He didn’t like sharing my attention, and this caused some tension and changes in his behavior.”
Both Neymar and Mbappe joined PSG in 2017, Neymar from Barcelona and Mbappe from AS Monaco. However, Neymar pointed out that the team struggled with the clash of egos, especially in big matches.
“Egos can be good, but only when balanced,” Neymar explained. “Football isn’t an individual game. If players don’t support each other and work as a team, it’s impossible to achieve anything.”
In the same interview, Neymar also shared his thoughts on his decision to join Barcelona over Real Madrid earlier in his career.
“I don’t regret choosing Barcelona,” he said. “I followed my heart. I wanted to play with Messi, and I had always loved Barça since the days of Ronaldinho. It was a dream come true.”
Neymar described the intense negotiations between Barcelona and Real Madrid at the time. “Both clubs wanted me, and their representatives were constantly calling me. It was overwhelming, but in the end, my heart told me to go to Barcelona.”
Neymar’s candid remarks highlight the challenges of managing superstar egos in football and the personal choices that shape a player’s career. While PSG’s talented squad promised great success, internal conflicts may have hindered their true potential.
