A mere two days after Mbappe confirmed his commitment to stay with PSG, Neymar’s sudden move to don the Al Hilal jersey in the Saudi Arabian national league left fans bewildered. According to Sport, these developments were far from coincidental, implying a deeper connection.
The rift between Mbappe and Neymar had been simmering for a while, but it reached its boiling point. The French forward exerted enough pressure on PSG’s leadership to initiate Neymar’s departure. Mbappe took a different approach than expected, delivering an ultimatum that PSG’s management needed to resolve Neymar’s future promptly. In a bid to convince Mbappe to stay, the club’s top brass had no choice but to let go of the “mini Pele.”
The relationship between these two players had been strained for some time. While most of Neymar’s teammates bid him farewell upon his exit, Mbappe remained silent and refrained from bidding his fellow player adieu.
Recall that in 2021, the cameras captured Mbappe telling Idrissa Gueye that Neymar was merely a “clingy” player during a PSG vs. Montpellier match. This statement stemmed from Neymar’s perceived lack of passes to Mbappe during the game. Mbappe later admitted, “Yes, I did say that. It’s something that happens in football. I talked to Neymar about it afterward. We had an honest conversation, and there’s no blame.”
Last year, tensions flared when the two players clashed over taking a penalty kick during a match against Montpellier. Eventually, the coaching staff sided with Mbappe, granting him the right to take the penalty kick.
Neymar’s demeanor towards Mbappe grew cold, particularly when Messi joined PSG. They avoided appearing together at events, and recently, Neymar stirred controversy by liking posts critical of Mbappe on social media. Even in the lead-up to his departure, the Brazilian forward exhibited similar behavior.
Neymar and Mbappe were a face-to-face duo but not of the same mind. Both coveted the mantle of leadership at PSG, leading to a gradual estrangement. Despite their initial camaraderie upon joining PSG, their ambitions ultimately drove them apart.
In retrospect, Neymar’s departure makes sense in PSG’s pursuit of squad stability. Balancing a team with multiple strong personalities proved challenging, leaving the club’s internal dynamics in constant turmoil for years.
Neymar’s exit aligns with PSG’s objective of solidifying their team structure. The club cannot accommodate an excess of strong-willed players, as this would perpetuate the internal chaos that has plagued them for years.
