The football world has been taken aback by Neymar’s recent comments regarding Paris Saint-Germain. The former number 10 of the Parisian club, now a player for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, spoke in an exclusive interview with a Brazilian media outlet, where he compared the current PSG to the era of the famous attacking trio he formed with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. To everyone’s surprise, Neymar stated that the current team is, in his opinion, “much stronger” than the one of his time.
Neymar, known for his outspokenness, highlighted the tactical progress and balance of the Paris squad since his departure. “In our day, we had incredible talent up front, but the rest of the team wasn’t always at the same level. Today, PSG is more complete, more structured, and each player knows his role perfectly,” he said. This comment sparked numerous reactions, particularly from fans, nostalgic for the magic trio but also intrigued by this new vision.
What particularly caught the eye was Neymar’s heavy praise for one player in particular. Although he didn’t explicitly name a player, several sources close to the club believe it was Warren Zaire-Emery or another emerging young talent. Neymar said: “His skills are even better than mine. He has a maturity that I didn’t have at his age.” These powerful words demonstrate a deep respect for the new Parisian generation.
But that’s not all. Neymar went even further, making a bold prediction: “I am convinced that PSG will win the next Club World Cup. This group is hungry, it is united, and above all, it doesn’t have the pressure of big stars. They play for the team, not for the spotlight.” This statement was widely picked up by European and South American media, with some seeing it as a disguised criticism of his former partnership with Messi and Mbappé.
No official response has been given from PSG, but internally, Neymar’s comments appear to have been well received. According to a member of staff, this shows that the club’s image is changing, and that even former players recognize how far they’ve come.
Parisian fans, for their part, are torn between pride and nostalgia. Pride at seeing their team praised by a former star, but also nostalgia for a time when individual talent reigned supreme. It remains to be seen whether Neymar’s predictions will come true. One thing is certain: this season’s PSG is once again attracting attention.
