Neymar Jr., the Brazilian superstar and former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) forward, has shared his thoughts on his tumultuous time at the French club during recent interviews, reflecting on both the remarkable victories and the complicated relationships he experienced.
Neymar, who played for PSG from 2017 to 2023, expressed it was during his time with the club where he experienced the pinnacle of his football career. "É o clube onde passei mais tempo na minha carreira, seis anos. Vivi alguns momentos muito bonitos... Mas, infelizmente, alguns momentos tristes" ("It is the club where I spent the most time of my career, six years. I lived some very beautiful moments... But, unfortunately, some sad moments"), Neymar recounted during his interview on the French show Bartoli Time, aired on RMC.
While discussing his six-year tenure, Neymar listed numerous achievements, including five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France trophies, and becoming the first player to lead PSG to a Champions League final, highlighting the 2019-2020 season where they reached the final against Bayern Munich. "Não podemos esquecer que levamos o clube à sua primeira final de Champions... Gostaria de ter vencido com o PSG..." ("Let’s not forget we took the club to its first Champions League final... I would have liked to have won with PSG..."), he said. The loss weighed heavily on him, as he hopes to achieve similar success again.
Despite the glory, Neymar's relationship with fans and some club management deteriorated over time. His statements revealed deep sentiments about the treatment he received from supporters, particularly during the last years of his contract. "Para mim houve injustiça, porque sempre dei tudo de mim em campo. Não tenho ressentimentos, mas fiquei um pouco triste com a forma como fui tratado pelos torcedores..." ("For me, there was injustice, because I always gave my all on the pitch. I have no resentment, but I was a little sad about how I was treated by the supporters..."), Neymar reflected, referencing incidents where fans came to his home demanding he leave the club—a situation he felt crossed the line.
These protests culminated among growing tensions between Neymar and the fans, which had begun long before his transfer to Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia. "Fiquei triste pela forma como fui tratado no final, mas passou. Não tenho ressentimento em relação ao clube..." ("I was sad about how I was treated at the end, but it’s past. I have no resentment against the club..."), he explained, asserting anger not at the club but specific individuals associated with its management and some of the fans.
Neymar's injury history also overshadowed his PSG career. He spent significant time sidelined with injuries, affecting his playing seasons and perhaps contributing to the frustrations felt by supporters. A significant injury to his knee during qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup kept him offline for over a year, leading to limited participation post-recovery. "Em 2024, contra o Uruguai, Neymar sofreu uma grave lesão que o afastou dos gramados por mais de um ano" ("in 2024, against Uruguay, Neymar suffered a serious injury which kept him sidelined for over a year"). Recent reports focus on his potential return to full fitness as he continues playing for Al-Hilal but healing remains elusive as he faced yet another injury shortly after returning.
Reflecting on his career, Neymar's memories of PSG remain bittersweet. "Foi uma situação bastante complicada... Existem momentos tristes, infelizmente" ("It was quite complicated... There are sad moments, unfortunately"), he stated. It is evident from his comments, Neymar cherishes the milestones but cannot erase the unsettling experiences—indicating the complexity of fame mixed with vulnerability as he faced backlash from those he sought approval from.
Throughout his career, Neymar has undoubtedly made his mark on football, influencing both the pitch through his skill and the market with his record-breaking transfer of €222 million to PSG, which reshaped the football transfer market. His move attracted other big talents to PSG, establishing the club’s reputation globally. Following his departure from Paris, Neymar continues to fight to maintain relevance as he faces new challenges abroad. "O clube ainda tem esse objetivo e está totalmente investido nessa busca" ("The club still has this objective and is fully invested in this search"), reflecting Neymar’s hopes for PSG’s future success.
Now, as Neymar embarks on his new chapter with Al-Hilal, the Brazilian hopes to recover fully from his injuries and continue showcasing the skills he credits to his time at PSG. He aspires for future World Cup prospects with Brazil, which remains intrinsic to his goals as he continues to navigate the world of elite football. The spotlight now focuses on whether he can overcome the challenges posed by injuries and forge new successes, both personally and for his clubs moving forward.
