The football world was shocked when former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star Neymar Jr. revealed in an interview with Globo Esporte that the current PSG squad is much stronger than the one that was used during the reign of the legendary trio of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. Neymar made a special point of praising 19-year-old attacking midfielder Désiré Doué, saying, “His skills are even better than mine.” Doué also sent the Paris fans into a rage when he confidently predicted that PSG would win the 2025 Champions League.
Neymar, who played for PSG between 2017 and 2023, scoring 118 goals in 173 matches, is aware of the club’s potential. Under his leadership, PSG, along with Messi and Mbappé, dominated Ligue 1 but never conquered the Champions League, especially losing the 2020 final to Bayern Munich. Today, with a rejuvenated squad led by Luis Enrique, Neymar sees a more balanced and dynamic PSG. According to Le Parisien, the attacking line led by Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola, combined with Nuno Mendes’ strong defense, impressed Neymar, who follows the matches from Saudi Arabia and plays for Al Hilal.
The player that Neymar stands out for, Désiré Doué, has been a revelation. According to SofaScore, Doué, who has scored 8 goals and made 12 assists this season, has attracted the attention of big clubs including Manchester City, and has been offered £200 million for him. While the posts on @PSGFanClub’s X page have been full of praise for Neymar, some have compared Doué to icons such as Ronaldinho. In his interview, Neymar highlighted Doué’s creativity, speed and maturity, predicting that he will be “the best player in the world in two years”.
The statement comes after PSG remained unbeaten in Ligue 1 and advanced to the Champions League final. Fans, such as @ParisienVN, are buoyed by Neymar’s confidence and see it as a sign that the club is on the right track. But some analysts, such as Canal+’s Pierre Ménès, are tempering the enthusiasm, reminding us that the pressure of a Champions League final can be overwhelming, even for such a talented team.
Neymar’s predictions and praises for Doué have also revived speculation that the Brazilian striker could return to PSG. According to ESPN Brazil, Neymar has a contract with Al-Hilal until 2026. However, Neymar does not rule out the possibility. For now, these statements reinforce PSG’s confidence as they approach crucial matches. If Doué continues to shine and PSG lift the European trophy, Neymar’s words could be prophetic and mark a historic turning point for the Parisian club.
