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PSG fans ‘crossed the line’ in ‘sad’ relationship… Messi was also bullied, striker says


Former Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar says he feels “resentment” towards “the people who run the club and some of the fans” after six years with the French giants in what remains the most expensive transfer in history.

The 32-year-old, who had 118 goals and 70 assists in 173 games before joining Saudi club Al-Hilal for around Β£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 magnificent – the French and the fans accepted me very well,” Neymar said RMCtalking about his Β£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 with Lionel Messi.”

Neymar: ‘Injustice’ at PSG

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

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

Neymar and Mbappe helped PSG reach the 2019/20 Champions League final, but that remains the only occasion the 12-time French champions have progressed beyond the semi-finals and eliminations in the last 16 during Messi’s two seasons at the club are widespread considered failures.

“It was an injustice for me, 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 have no complaints, but I was a little sad because of the way the fans treated me, especially when they came to my house, when they wanted to break into my house, insult me ​​or hit me.

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

‘Great’ and ‘sad’ moments

“I was sad about the way they treated me at the end, but it’s over,” added Neymar. “I respect PSG as a club and I will always support them (and hope they have) the best results.

“I have no complaint against the club, I only have a small complaint against the people who run the club and some of the fans. But that’s in the past.

“It is the club where I spent the most time in my career, six years. I had great moments, but also sad ones. My relationship with the fans is also part of the sad moments, unfortunately.

“But on a sporting level, it was the best football I’ve played. So I’m happy and my conscience is clear 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 league title with Neymar. 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 the season,” Neymar reflected. “I was very sad, because I often had very serious injuries that could last from three, four to six months.

“It bothered me a lot, but in football terms, in sports terms, that was the best Neymar they had in my entire career.

“I will not forget the very good moments I spent, especially the Champions League final. Those were truly incredible moments. We could have won (in a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich), but the final is decided on the details.

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

“Playing in Ligue 1 was a really 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 a part of it.”

Neymar wants to return to Brazil

Brazil’s all-time top scorer is now aiming to play at the 2026 World Cup despite more than 13 months away from international duty through injury.

Neymar broke Pele’s record by scoring 78. 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 return plans were scuppered by an injury he picked up in his brief second appearance after his return for Al-Hilal.

Neymar was brought on as a second-half substitute in the Saudi Professional League’s 3-0 win against Iranian rivals Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League Elite last month, but lasted less than 30 minutes before being withdrawn.

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 in excess of Β£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.

β€œAbsolutely – yes, yes, I will be back (for Brazil). I am preparing for it and even excited. I should have been invited (World Cup qualifiers in November), but after talking to the coach (Dorival Junior), he decided not to.

“Next time I’ll definitely be with my teammates – I’m getting ready for that, anyway. There is nothing better than representing your country.

“We hope that the team will improve. It is developing. We must not forget that the team is young, we have potential and we will have to use it as soon as possible in order to become a great team.”

Al Hilal ‘priority’ for Neymar

Brazil’s next World Cup qualifiers are in March and Dorival Junior has no shortage of attacking options, with Real Madrid trio Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Endrick and Barcelona’s Raphinha all available to call upon.

There has been speculation in Saudi Arabia that Al-Hilal will not re-register Neymar for the second half of their Premier League 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 was allowed to play in international competitions.

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

“My priority is here: to recover well, develop physically and simply play again. I would like to play in the Club World Cup 2025 (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 championships; I want to make a fourth. I have to focus on that, prepare well here and have this medium-term goal after I get back in shape here at my club.

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

Al-Hilal are next in action in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Al-Ittihad at the Kingdom Arena on January 7 (18.30 GMT).





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