Neymar: 'Messi and I are living in hell at PSG'

Striker Neymar admitted that he and Lionel Messi have gone through many difficulties in the last two seasons at PSG.

Brazilian channel Globo 's Esporte Espetacular interviewed Neymar in June, but only aired it on September 3. Here, the Brazilian striker was asked about his feelings when he saw his senior and close friend Messi and the Argentina team win the 2022 World Cup.

"I'm very happy for Messi's successful year," Neymar replied. "But at the same time it was very sad, because Messi lived both sides of the coin. He went to heaven with Argentina, winning everything in recent years. But in Paris, Messi lived like hell. Both me and him lived in hell."

Messi and Neymar in a Champions League match with PSG in the 2022-2023 season. Photo: Reuters — Messi and Neymar in a Champions League match with PSG in the 2022-2023 season. Photo: *Reuters*

Messi and Neymar have won every trophy in Barca's colours, but have been unable to help PSG reach Champions League glory. The South American duo have been booed and jeered by PSG fans after their team were eliminated from the Champions League in the past two years.

Neymar believes the criticism he and Messi have received is unfair. "We are very sad, because we tried our best to be champions, to make history," the 31-year-old striker stressed. "That's why we continued to play together, to be able to make history. Unfortunately, we didn't do it."

This summer, both left PSG. Neymar moved to Al Hilal of the Saudi Pro League for a $200 million annual salary, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo's earnings at Al Nassr and Karim Benzema's at Al Ittihad. In six seasons with PSG, the Brazilian forward scored 118 goals and assisted 77, won five Ligue 1, three French Cups, two French League Cups and three French Super Cups, and finished runner-up in the 2019-2020 Champions League.

Messi moved to PSG in 2021, winning two Ligue 1 titles and a French Super Cup. In an interview with AS on June 23, the Argentine star admitted that it was difficult to adapt to the new environment and that he had a rift with PSG fans.

The relationship between Messi and PSG fans began to deteriorate in early 2023. After losing in the Champions League round of 16 for the second time in a row, a group of fans criticized Messi. Relations between the two sides were also strained after Messi went to Saudi Arabia to promote tourism in early May. Messi had planned this in advance, but PSG made the players practice right after the Ligue 1 defeat to Lorient. Messi posted an apology video after the trip, saying that he had postponed it once and could do nothing else.

After his contract with PSG expired, Messi moved to Inter Miami and continued to shine. The owner of seven Golden Balls contributed 11 goals and five assists in 11 matches, helping Inter Miami win the 2023 Leagues Cup, reach the final of the US Cup against Houston Dynamo on September 28 and escape the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference.

Hong Duy

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