Sao Paulo: Brazilian striker Neymar said Thursday that his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe became “jealous” of his relationship with Lionel Messi when the Argentine star joined the club in 2021.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by former Brazilian striker Romario, Neymar blamed a clash of egos for the failure of the three stars during their time together at the French club.
32-year-old Neymar, who left Paris Saint-Germain for Saudi club Al-Hilal in 2023, said he had a good relationship with Mbappe initially when the French international joined him at Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
Neymar said about Mbappe: “I had problems with him. We quarreled a little, but he was a boy at the beginning. When he arrived, he was a starter.”
“I always told him, joked with him, that he would be one of the best, I always helped him, talked to him.
“He came to my house, and we went out to dinner together.”
But Neymar said Mbappe’s behavior changed when Messi arrived from Barcelona in 2021. Neymar already had a relationship with Messi since their successful spell as teammates at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017.
“We had some good years together, but then, when Messi arrived, I think he felt a little jealous,” Neymar said.
He added: “He did not want to share me with anyone, then the fights started and the behavior changed.”
Neymar added that a lack of teamwork lies behind the failure of the Paris Saint-Germain trio to fully realize their potential.
“You have to realize that you don’t play alone. Others have to be by your side: ‘I’m the best, okay’, but who’s going to give you the ball? You have to have good people giving you the ball. You’re the ball,” Neymar said.
“It was about everyone’s ego… so it couldn’t have worked. Nowadays, if no one runs, if no one helps each other, it’s impossible to win,” he added.
Meanwhile, Neymar has refused to give any clues about his future amid recent speculation that he may seek a return to Brazil or Major League Soccer. Neymar suffered injuries in Saudi Arabia and played only a few matches in 16 months.
Neymar said that although he remains happy in Saudi Arabia, “in six months, everything could change.”