Why Neymar's father was against his move to PSG from Barcelona?

Neymar joined PSG in the summer of 2017

Neymar Santos Sr, Neymar’s father, recently made an intriguing remark regarding his son’s move to Paris Saint-Germain from FC Barcelona.

PSG broke the transfer record when they shelled out €222 million to sign him from Barcelona in the summer of 2017, making it the most costly transfer in the sport’s history to date.

It was believed at the time that Neymar was departing to establish himself at PSG and get away from Lionel Messi’s shadow. Neymar enjoyed many impressive times at Barcelona and formed a most entertaining attacking trio with Messi and Luis Suarez and won a treble.

However, it seems that not everyone supported Neymar’s decision to sign with PSG, and his father was among those who opposed the move.

“The board [in 2017] made things difficult. I really wanted my son to stay in Barcelona, really. It was until the last few days we did everything for him not to leave, and he left,” he said 

He explained his son’s choice to join PSG by saying the striker didn’t want to, in a sense, follow in Messi’s footsteps as he wanted to establish his own identity in the sport and become one of the best players for PSG.

Neymar did enjoy a great run at the French club before injuries started creeping in his career and the forward became injury-prone before the club decided to get rid of him.

“He didn’t want to put himself in the position of Barcelona’s biggest star. And he decided: ‘I’m going to my corner. He didn’t want to take Messi’s place, he didn’t want to be the guy: ‘I don’t want any of that, I’m going to my corner, I’m going somewhere else’ is what he said‘.”

Neymar spent six years as a player for PSG before departing in 2023. He was frequently linked to a return to Barcelona while he was at Parc des Princes.

he is now playing with Al Hilal, although Neymar’s contract with the Saudi team expires at the end of the current campaign.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.