Brazilian football star Neymar has revealed that his former teammate Kylian Mbappé was “jealous” of Lionel Messi following the Argentine’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Neymar shared these insights during a podcast with Brazilian football legend Romario, where he discussed his time at PSG, his relationship with Mbappé, and the challenges of managing egos in a star-studded team. 
Addressing Mbappé’s behavior after Messi joined PSG, Neymar said, “He was a little jealous. He didn’t want to split me with anyone.
And then there were some fights, a change in behavior.”
Despite their differences, Neymar acknowledged Mbappé’s contributions to the team, describing him as “fundamental” to PSG’s success when he first arrived.
“I used to call him Golden Boy. I always played with him, said he was going to be one of the best,” Neymar said, adding that they shared many good moments as teammates.
Neymar also highlighted how big egos affected PSG’s performances in crucial matches, stating, “It is good to have egos, but you have to know that you don’t play alone.
There needs to be another guy by your side. [Big] egos were almost everywhere; it can’t work.
If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything.”
These comments shed light on some of the internal dynamics that may have hindered the team’s ability to secure major European titles.
In the podcast, Neymar reflected on his decision to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid earlier in his career, a choice he described as being driven by his heart.
“I don’t regret my choice to pick Barcelona over Real Madrid. I went with my heart there,” he said.
Neymar shared that playing with Lionel Messi and the club’s legacy, particularly during Ronaldinho’s era, influenced his decision.
“Barça was the team I loved. I always watched, since the era of Ronaldinho, and I always said, I want to play there. It happened.”
The Brazilian also recounted the intense days leading up to his transfer to Barcelona, revealing that he was torn between offers from Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“It was 2 or 3 days where I wasn’t even training, just going from my house to the office to resolve this.
It was Real Madrid’s people calling me from one side and Barcelona’s people calling me from the other. Both presidents were talking to me.
I couldn’t rationalize. But then my heart spoke louder, and I ended up choosing Barcelona,” Neymar explained.
Neymar’s candid revelations offer a glimpse into the dynamics of star-studded teams like PSG and highlight his personal journey and career-defining choices.
