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

ByAnnie

Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar says he feels “resentment” towards “people who manage the club and some supporters” from his six years with the French giants in a move that remains the most expensive transfer in history.

The 32-year-old, who produced 118 goals and 70 assists in 173 games before joining Saudi club Al-Hilal for around £71.2 million in August 2023, was targeted by a group of PSG fans at his home in April 2023, having made his final appearance for the club in February before missing 15 games following ankle surgery.

“The first year was magnificent – I was very well received by the French people and supporters,” Neymar told RMC, speaking about his £200m switch from Barcelona in August 2017.

“The last two or three years have were not the same. It was not incredible the way I was treated, [and] it was the same for Lionel Messi.”

Neymar: ‘Injustice’ at PSG

Barca all-time top scorer Messi followed Neymar to PSG in August 2021 following his shock exit from his boyhood club because they could not meet LaLiga financial rules to keep him.

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

Neymar and Mbappe had helped PSG reach the Champions League final in 2019/20, but that remains the only occasion when the 12-time French champions have gone beyond the semi-finals, and their eliminations at the round of 16 stage during Messi’s two seasons at the club were widely viewed as underachievements.

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

“I have no resentment, 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 invade my house, insult me ​​or hit me.

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

‘Great’ and ‘sad’ moments

“I was sad about the way I was treated at the end, but it passed,” added Neymar. “I respect PSG as a club and I will always support them [and hope they] have the best results.

“I have no resentment toward the club, I just have a little resentment towards people who manage the club and some supporters. But that’s in the past.

“It’s the club where I spent the most time in my career, six years. I had some great moments, but also some sad moments. And my relationship with the supporters is rather part of the sad moments, unfortunately.

“But on a sporting level, it was the best football I’ve played. So I’m happy and I have a clear conscience about that… football-wise, I think I was at the peak of my career.”

Neymar, Messi and Mbappe

The 2020/21 season was the only campaign in which PSG failed to win the French title with Neymar involved. Nine-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, while Mbappe joined 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,” reflected Neymar. “It was very sad for me, because I often had very serious injuries that could last from three, four to six months.

“It bothered me a lot, but in terms of football, in terms of 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 [in a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich], but a final is decided on details.

“It was really a great year, when I think back on it. I will never forget those moments – they are engraved 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 am proud and happy to have been part of that.”

Neymar wants Brazil return

Brazil’s all-time record scorer now wants to play at the 2026 World Cup despite an injury absence of more than 13 months from international action.

Neymar broke Pele’s record by scoring the 78th of his 79 international goals during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in September 2023 but ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Uruguay the following month.

In the short term, his comeback plans have been scuppered by an injury he suffered in a brief second appearance following his return for Al-Hilal.

Neymar was introduced 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 pulling up.

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

“I am 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.

“Absolutely – yes, yes, I will be back [for Brazil]. I am preparing for it and I am even excited. I should have been called up for [World Cup qualifiers in November], but after talking with the coach [Dorival Junior], he decided not.

“Next time, I will surely be with my teammates – I am preparing for it, in any case. There is nothing better than representing your country.

“We hope that the team will improve. It is evolving. We must not forget that the team is young, we have potential and we will have to exploit it as quickly as possible so that we can become a great team.”

Al Hilal ‘priority’ for Neymar

Brazil’s next World Cup qualification games are in March and Dorival Junior is not short of attacking options, with the likes of Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick and Barcelona’s Raphinha to call upon.

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

The reigning champions and current title contenders did not name him in their squad for the first half of the campaign because of his injury, but he is allowed to play in international competitions.

“First of all, I want to have a good season with Al-Hilal,” said Neymar. “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, develop physically and simply play again. I would like to play in the 2025 Club World Cup [in the US in June and July] with Al-Hilal, because it is very important for the club.

“The World Cup is the goal for all players. I have already played in three World Cups; I want to do a fourth. I have to be focused on that, prepare well here and have this medium-term objective after getting back in shape here, at my club.

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

Al-Hilal are next in action in the King Cup quarter-finals against Al-Ittihad at the Kingdom Arena on January 7 (6.30pm GMT).



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