Neymar‘s journey from PSG to Al Hilal in a lucrative $218 million deal was not without its fair share of drama. This transfer marked the end of an era characterized by tension and strained relations. Neymar Jr. famously claimed that he and Lionel Messi “lived through hell” in Paris. Now, a former teammate recalls the warning he gave the Brazilian before he made the leap to PSG.

In 2017, Neymar left Barcelona in a record transfer deal and moved to PSG. His move to France became the most expensive transfer in the history of world soccer. Despite the hefty price tag, Ney couldn’t perform to his full potential, and his time at the club was plagued by injuries.

Ex-teammate recalls how he tried to stop Brazilian’s move to Paris

Neymar’s former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, recently admitted how he tried to warn Neymar against leaving Barcelona. Suarez firmly believed that Neymar had the potential to win a Ballon d’Or if he stayed at the Catalan club, and he explained why this didn’t happen.

According to the Uruguayan striker, they said to Neymar, “If you want to win everything, stay here.” Neymar initially accepted their advice but continued to grapple with insecurities.

Suarez candidly shared, “We warned him as friends, but his family decided to move. We said, ‘Neymar in England could have a future, he’s a good footballer, but in France?'” The decision was made, and Neymar’s journey to PSG began.

During his four seasons at Barcelona, Neymar left a lasting mark, recording 105 goals and 76 assists across 186 appearances. Alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, he formed one of the most lethal attacking trios in modern soccer history. This trio, popularly known as ‘MSN,’ led Barcelona to win the 2014-15 season treble.

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Fast forward to the present, Neymar Jr. continues to make headlines, breaking Pele’s historic record. He is currently with the Brazil national team, participating in the World Cup qualifiers. 

Neymar Jr. broke Pele’s all-time goal-scoring record for Brazil

In a recent match against Bolivia, Neymar Jr. scored twice in Brazil’s resounding 5-1 victory, making history by breaking a record that had remained unbroken for 52 years. This achievement saw him surpass Pele as Brazil’s all-time leading scorer. The 31-year-old has now scored an impressive 79 international goals.

Neymar’s international journey began in 2010 when he scored his first goal for Brazil on his debut at 18, in a 2-0 friendly win against the USA. Since then, he has continued to dazzle on the international stage.

As we reflect on Neymar’s journey from Barcelona to PSG and now to Al Hilal, we can’t help but wonder about the alternate path he might have taken if he had heeded the warnings of his former teammates.

Could he have achieved even greater heights by staying in Europe? The soccer world is filled with “what-ifs,” and Neymar’s career serves as a cautionary tale. 

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