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PSG fans ‘crossed the line’ in ‘sad’ relationship… says striker and Messi abused

Rachel014 mins


Former Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar says he feels “resentment” at “the people running the club and some supporters” since his six years at the French giants in what remains the most expensive transfer in history.

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

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

“The last two or three years have not been the same. It wasn’t incredible the way they treated me, (and) it was the same for Lionel Messi.”

Neymar: “Injustice” to PSG

Barca’s all-time top scorer Messi followed Neymar to PSG in August 2021 after leaving the boyhood club because they could not meet LaLiga’s financial rules to keep him.

The move reunited the pair with 2018 World Cup winner and PSG’s all-time leading goalscorer Kylian Mbappe, giving 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 this remains the only occasion the 12-time French champions have gone beyond their semi-finals and last-16 eliminations over the course of two seasons of Messi. at the club they were widely regarded as feats.

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

“I have no resentment but I was a bit sad about the way the fans treated me, 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 respected, while I always respected them… It was really a complicated situation.”

‘Great’ and ‘sad’ moments

“I was upset about the way I was treated at the end, but it passed,” Neymar added. “I respect PSG as a club and I will always support (and hope for) the best results.

“I don’t have any resentment towards the club, I just have a bit of resentment towards the people running the club and some of the fans. But that is a thing of the past.

“It is the club where I spent the most time in my career, six years. I had some good times, but also some sad times. And my relationship with the fans is probably 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 it … football-wise, I think I was at the peak of my career.”

Neymar, Messi and Bape

The 2020/21 season was the only season 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.

“(Some 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, sport, he was the best Neymar they had in my whole career.

“I will not forget the very good moments I had, especially the Champions League final. Those were really incredible moments. We could have won (in a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich), but the final is decided in the details.

“It really was a great year when I look back. 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 history in Ligue 1, it was good for my career. I’m proud and happy to have been a part of it.”

Neymar wants Brazil back

Brazil’s all-time top scorer is now keen to play at the 2026 World Cup despite an injury-riddled 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 tore his ACL against Uruguay the following month.

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

Neymar was introduced as a second-half substitute in the Saudi Pro League side’s 3-0 win over Iranian rivals 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 games for the club who paid a reported 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 league.

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

“Next time I will definitely be with my team-mates – in any case I am preparing for it. There is nothing better than representing your country.

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

Al Hilal “priority” for Neymar

Brazil’s next World Cup qualifiers are in March and Dorival Junior is short of attacking options, with Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick and Barcelona’s Raphinha being called up.

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

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

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

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

“The World Cup is the goal of all players. I have already played in three World Cups. I want to make a quarter. I have to focus on that, prepare well here and have that medium-term goal after I get back in shape here at my club.

Now I am ready to quickly return to the pitch this season with my team 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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