Neymar says Paris Saint Germain's fans "crossed the line" with him and Lionel Messi and felt a sense of "injustice" over how he was treated.
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Neymar had sour end to PSG spellSays fans "crossed the line" with him & MessiStill holds "resentment" towards clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Neymar swapped Barcelona for PSG in 2017 and in his first season he scored 28 goals; but for nearly every campaign after that, it was a downward trend for the Brazilian. Before he left the French side for Al-Hilal in 2023, the forward's relationship with the fans greatly soured, with many fans booing him and former team-mate Messi at times. One group of supporters even stood outside Neymar's home to protest his continued presence at the club. Now, the 32-year-old has reflected on his time at PSG and admitted that he still holds some "resentment" to certain people who run the Ligue 1 team.
AdvertisementWHAT NEYMAR SAID
He told RMC Sport: "The first year was magnificent, I was very well received by the French people and supporters. The last two or three years have not been the same, it was not incredible the way I was treated, it's the same for Lionel Messi. 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 the way I was treated by the supporters, especially when they came to my house, when they wanted to invade my house, insult me or want to hit me. For me, they crossed the line. Our relationship was no longer respectful, while I always respected them… It was really a complicated situation. I was sad about the way I was treated at the end, but it passed. I respect the PSG club and I will always support them so that they have the best results. I have no resentment towards the club, I just have a little resentment towards people who manage the club and some supporters. But that's in the past. It's the club where I spent the most time in my career, six years. I had some great moments, but also some sad moments. And my relationship with the supporters is rather 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 that."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Neymar joined PSG for a world-record €222 million (£200m/$242m) fee from Barcelona in 2017, but he, arguably, did not hit the heights many would have hoped he would. The fact that he has gone to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, perhaps, shows how far this player – who was hailed as a generational talent – has fallen.
gettyWHAT NEXT?
Neymar, who was out for the best part of a year with a knee injury and is now recovering from a hamstring problem, could next feature for Al-Hilal when they host Al-Ittihad in the quarter-finals of the King Cup of Champions on January 7.