PSG Star Neymar Jr. Credits Former Barcelona Teammate Lionel Messi For His Rise

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star footballer Neymar Jr has expressed his gratitude for the support that he got from former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star footballer Neymar Jr has expressed his gratitude for the support that he got from former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi. Having left Barcelona in 2017 for a world record fee of 222 million euros, there has been no love lost for his former teammate, who still remains to be close friends with the Brazilian.

In a recent interview with Esporte Espectacular, Neymar spoke about his relationship with the Argentine, saying, “I tell it for everybody now, that when I needed help the most, the best in the world (Messi) showed me affection.” Talking about his potential return to join Messi at Barcelona, he continued further, “It’s difficult, it’s difficult. To be honest, it is very difficult because Leo was a very special guy for me at Barcelona.”

Revealing what Lionel Messi said to him when Neymar first arrived at Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium, he said: ‘I’m here to help you’, he said, “in addition to advising him not to be afraid of him or anyone else at the club, and asked him not to be shy.”

Contrary to reports which suggested that the Brazilian parted ways with Barcelona to get his own limelight – which wasn’t possible in Barcelona pertaining to Messi’s presence – Neymar’s father, who is also his agent said that the reason for his transfer was because they were asked to give visibility to a whole different league, the project they were offered was very lucrative and hard to say no to and mentions it was a very complex situation.

Neymar alongside Messi, and Suarez, who joined from Liverpool in 2016 went on to form one of the most iconic attacking trios the Catalan club has seen. They were labeled as ‘MSN’ – the initials of their names and won several trophies together including two Champions League.