Neymar’s decision to leave Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 was a shock to the football world, but the real reason behind his departure has finally been revealed by his father, Neymar Sr. In a candid interview on the ‘Jota Jota Podcast’, Neymar Sr. disclosed that his son’s desire to avoid taking the spotlight from Lionel Messi was the primary factor behind his exit from Camp Nou.
According to Neymar Sr., Barcelona’s sporting management had begun to position Neymar as the club’s new star, which would have meant taking the spotlight away from Messi. However, Neymar was reluctant to assume this role and instead chose to leave the club to avoid any potential conflict or tension with his teammate.
Neymar Sr. revealed that he had tried to persuade his son to stay at Barcelona, but ultimately respected his decision to leave. “Going to PSG was his decision, he decided to change,” Neymar Sr. said. “At that time we were in a very difficult situation at Barca because we didn’t know what the sporting management thought. It seemed that the club wanted him to take Messi’s place and he didn’t want that.”
Neymar’s loyalty to Barcelona was evident even before he joined the club, with his father revealing that he had rejected a more lucrative offer from Real Madrid to join the Catalan giants. “Signing for Barca was entirely his decision,” Neymar Sr. said. “I had in my hands offers from Barca and Madrid. The one from Madrid was three times higher. And he said no, he wanted to play with those guys (Suarez and Messi). His dream was to play for Barcelona.”
Neymar’s decision to leave Barcelona ultimately led to him joining Paris Saint-Germain, where he sought to establish himself as the central figure in a team with its own aspirations. Although he has achieved success with the French club, including two league titles, his time at PSG has been marked by controversy and speculation over his future. With reports suggesting that Inter Miami are keen on signing Neymar, a reunion with Messi could be on the cards once again.
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