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PSG fans have crossed the line in a ‘sad’ relationship… as the striker says Messi was also mistreated

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PSG fans have crossed the line in a ‘sad’ relationship… as the striker says Messi was also mistreated


Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar says he feels “irritation” towards “people who run the club and some fans” over his six years with the French giants – a move that remains the most expensive transfer is in history.

The 32-year-old, who scored 118 goals and 70 assists in 173 games before moving to Saudi club Al-Hilal for around £71.2 million in August 2023, was targeted by a group of PSG players at his home in April 2023. Fans after he fired a shot His last appearance for the club came in February before he missed 15 games following ankle surgery.

“The first year was great – I was very well received by the French people and the fans,” Neymar said RMCabout his £200million move from Barcelona in August 2017.

“The last two or three years have not been the same. It wasn’t unbelievable how I was treated, (and) the same was true for Lionel Messi.”

Neymar: “Injustice” at PSG

Barca’s all-time leading scorer, Messi, followed Neymar to PSG in August 2021 after he unexpectedly left his boyhood club because they could not comply with LaLiga’s financial rules to keep him.

The move reunited the pair with 2018 World Cup winner and PSG’s all-time top scorer Kylian Mbappe and gave the French giants the most feared attacking trio in world football.

Neymar and Mbappe helped PSG reach the Champions League final in 2019/20, but that remains the only time the 12-time French champions have progressed beyond the semi-finals and exited in the round of 16 in Messi’s two seasons at the club widely viewed as inadequate.

“For me it was an injustice because I always gave my best on the pitch,” said Neymar, who missed 136 games for PSG and Brazil during his time in Ligue 1.

“I don’t hold any grudges, but I was a little sad about the way I was treated by the supporters, especially when they came to my house, when they wanted to break into my house, insult me ​​or hit me.”

“For me, they crossed the line. Our relationship was no longer respectful, while I always respected her… It was really a complicated situation.”

“Great” and “sad” moments

“I was sad about how I was treated at the end, but it passed,” Neymar added. “I respect PSG as a club and will always support them (and hope they achieve the best results).

“I have no grudge against the club, I just have a little grudge against the people who run the club and some fans. But that is in the past.

“It is the club where I spent most of my career, namely six years. I had some great moments, but also some sad moments. And my relationship with the fans is unfortunately one of the sad moments.

“But in terms of sport, it was the best football I’ve ever played. So I’m satisfied and have a clear conscience. I think I was at the peak of my footballing career.”

Neymar, Messi and Mbappe

The 2020/21 season was the only season in which PSG failed to win the French title with Neymar’s participation. Nine-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi moved to Inter Miami in July 2023, while Mbappe moved to Real Madrid after the 25-year-old’s contract expired at the end of last season.

“(Parts of my time there were) bad because I was injured for a long time and often… I didn’t finish a season,” Neymar reflected. “It was very sad for me because I often had very serious injuries that could last three, four to six months.

“It bothered me a lot, but in terms of football and sport it was the best Neymar they had in my entire career.”

“I won’t forget the very good times I had, especially the Champions League final. They were truly incredible moments. We could have won (losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich) but the details will determine a final.

“It was really a great year when I think back on it. I will never forget these moments – they are etched in my heart.

“Playing in Ligue 1 was really a good experience, the fans were great with me. I wrote my story in Ligue 1, it was good for my career. I’m proud and happy to have been a part of it.”

Neymar wants Brazil to return

Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer now wants to play in the 2026 World Cup despite being out of international play for more than 13 months due to injury.

Neymar broke Pelé’s record by scoring the 78th of his 79 international goals in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in September 2023, but suffered a torn cruciate ligament against Uruguay the following month.

In the short term, his comeback plans were derailed by an injury he sustained during a brief second appearance after his return to Al-Hilal.

Neymar came on as a second-half substitute in the Saudi Pro League team’s 3-0 win over Iranian opponents Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Elite last month, but lasted less than 30 minutes before coming on.

Although Neymar described the injury as “hopefully nothing too much”, he is yet to add to his seven appearances for the club, who reportedly paid a transfer fee of more than £71million for him.

“I’m really very happy here,” he said of the Riyadh club. “All the players who want to come here are surprised by the level or even some very positive aspects of this championship.

“Definitely – yes, yes, I will come back (for Brazil). I’m preparing for it and even excited. I should have been called up for the World Cup qualifiers in November, but after a conversation with the coach (Dorival Junior) he decided against it.

“Next time I’ll definitely be with my teammates – I’m definitely preparing for it. There is nothing better than representing your country.

“We hope the team improves. It continues to evolve. We must not forget that the team is young, we have potential and we have to exploit it as quickly as possible in order to become a great team.”

Al Hilal is Neymar’s “priority”.

Brazil’s next World Cup qualifiers are in March and Dorival Junior has plenty of attacking options, including Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick, as well as Barcelona’s Raphinha.

There has been speculation in Saudi Arabia that Al-Hilal will not re-sign Neymar for the second half of their top-flight season.

The reigning champions and current title contenders did not call him into their squad because of his injury in the first half of the season, but he is allowed to take part in international competitions.

“First of all, I want to have a good season with Al-Hilal,” Neymar said. “I’m coming back from a very serious injury. I still have a little time to get back to my level and show why I’m here.

“My priority is there: to recover well, to develop physically and just to play again. I would like to play with Al-Hilal in the 2025 Club World Cup (in June and July in the USA) because it is very important for the club.

“The World Cup is the goal of every player. I have already taken part in three world championships; I want to do a fourth one. I have to concentrate on that, prepare well here and pursue this medium-term goal after I get back into shape here at my club.

“I am now ready to quickly return to the pitch with my club and the Selecao this season.”

Next up for Al-Hilal is the King Cup quarter-final against Al-Ittihad at the Kingdom Arena on January 7 (18:30 GMT).





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