Neymar’s Departure from Barcelona: A Personal Decision, Says His Father

Neymar Santos Sr., father and agent of Neymar Jr., has disclosed that his son’s decision to leave Barcelona and join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 stemmed from a desire to step out of Lionel Messi’s shadow. Speaking on the Brazilian podcast Jota Jota, Neymar Sr. emphasized that the move was entirely his son’s choice.

"The decision to go to PSG was his. I wanted him to stay in Barcelona, and people in Spain wanted the same. They wanted him to take Messi's place. But ‘Ney’ didn’t want to be the main star," Neymar Sr. explained, shedding light on the thought process behind the record-breaking transfer.

A Complex Situation in Barcelona

According to Neymar Sr., the situation at Barcelona at the time, under the leadership of then-sporting director Josep María Bartomeu, was unclear. "We were in a complicated moment in Catalonia. We didn’t know what the club’s management wanted. We did everything possible to keep him there, but he was determined to leave," he stated.

Neymar’s transfer to PSG became the most expensive in football history, costing €222 million—his release clause at Barcelona. This deal eclipsed other major transfers, such as Kylian Mbappé’s €180 million move from Monaco to PSG and Barcelona’s €135 million acquisitions of Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembélé.

The "MSN" Era and Neymar’s Legacy in Barcelona

Neymar’s departure from Barcelona marked the end of an era. During his time at the club (2014–2017), he formed one of football’s most lethal attacking trios alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, famously known as "MSN." Together, they won numerous titles, including the Champions League, Supercopa de España, FIFA Club World Cup, two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and a UEFA Super Cup.

Statistically, the trio’s contribution was monumental: they scored a combined 364 goals (Messi 153, Suárez 121, Neymar 90) and provided 196 assists (Suárez 67, Messi 66, Neymar 63) during their tenure together. Neymar’s influence on and off the pitch left an indelible mark on the club.

A Dream Realized with Messi and Suárez

Interestingly, Neymar Sr. also revealed that his son’s choice to play for Barcelona was driven by his dream of sharing the field with Messi and Suárez, even though he had a more lucrative offer from Real Madrid.

"It was his idea to play for Barcelona. Real Madrid’s offer was three times higher, but he told me his dream was to play with Messi and Suárez, so that’s where we went," Neymar Sr. concluded.

• The Decision to Leave Barcelona: Neymar left to escape the pressure of being Messi’s successor and forge his own path.
• Historical Transfer: His €222 million move to PSG remains the most expensive transfer in football history.
• The "MSN" Legacy: Neymar was integral to one of the most dominant attacking trios in football history, achieving immense success at Barcelona.
• A Childhood Dream: Despite a superior offer from Real Madrid, Neymar chose Barcelona to fulfill his dream of playing alongside Messi and Suárez.