Luis Suarez (left) and Neymar won the Champions League in 2015 – Photo: / Getty Images
Neymar (31) switched from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for the record transfer fee of 222 million euros. The Brazilian was only happy there for a short time. Luis Suarez (36) and Lionel Messi (35) would have liked to spare their friend this grief.
Suarez ventured an exciting hypothesis towards Marca. “If Neymar had stayed at Barcelona, he would certainly have won a Ballon d’Or. In my opinion, if he had stayed, he would have won.”
From 2014 to 2017, Neymar and Suarez, together with Messi, formed what is arguably the best attack in Europe. The trio were crowned Spanish champions twice with Barça and once each Champions League winner and club world champion. So that the winning streak does not end, Messi and Suarez wanted to dissuade Neymar from the transfer to PSG in 2017. “We spoke to Neymar and told him: ‘Ney, if you want to win everything, stay here,'” revealed Suarez.
Suarez and Messi advised Neymar: go to Man City rather than PSG
However, Neymar remained stubborn. According to Suarez, his friends finally insisted that the Brazilian at least decide against Paris and for a better team. “We said: ‘Neymar, England are better. (Manchester) City, that’s where the football will be. But in France?'”
Neymar has played for Paris Saint-Germain since 2017 – Photo: Romain Biard / Shutterstock.com
Season-Off! Neymar is missing against FC Bayern, among others
In his first season, Neymar was still able to meet the high demands in Paris. In 20 league games he scored 32 goals. With PSG he also got the national triple right away. Only in the Champions League was the really big coup missing.
In recent years, however, Neymar has increasingly attracted attention due to his increased injury susceptibility. He is currently absent from his team with an ankle injury. Neymar’s season ended prematurely. It is his fourth serious injury in almost four years.
