Neymar opens up on post-Tuchel PSG; urges Mbappe to snub Liverpool
Neymar admits he now feels much happier at Paris Saint Germain and has urged Kylian Mbappe to sign a new deal at the club.
Neymar, 28, made a shock move to the Parc des Princes in the summer of 2017. The Parisians paid Barcelona €222 million for the Brazil forward.
It has not been all plain sailing in the French capital, with problems on and off the pitch. He has suffered a few nasty injuries while clashing with his own and opposition players.
But the South American continues to score goals, with 83 from 101 appearances in all competitions. Mbappe moved to PSG from Monaco in the same transfer window as Neymar.
He was rumoured to have cost €145 million plus €35 million in add-ons, making him the most expensive teenager ever.
Like Neymar, the 22-year-old has scored goals for fun. The France World Cup-winning star has 106 from 148 outings and the duo are a lethal combination in attack.
However, he will fall out of contract in the summer of 2022 and has been reluctant to pen new terms. That alerted Liverpool and Real Madrid who would both love the youngster in their ranks.
Neymar has also been linked with a PSG exit in recent years but now appears content under Mauricio Pochettino.
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“I am very happy today,” he told TF1. “I feel happy. Things have changed a lot, I can’t exactly explain why – if it’s just me, or something else has changed.
“But today, I am feeling good. I have adapted. I feel calmer and I’m very happy here.”
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Signing Mbappe would be a tough task for any club with the finances involved. His asking price would be well in excess of the figure PSG paid for his services four years’ ago.
The Paris-born forward confessed last week that he had been speaking to sporting director Leonardo over extending his stay.
But he refused to rule out a move away, saying he will “make a definitive decision soon”.
Neymar is now suggesting the atmosphere at the club is harmonious. And he wants his talented team-mate to thwart any advances and continue to ply his trade in Paris.
“I want to stay at PSG, and I hope Kylian will stay too. Of course, that is the wish of every PSG supporter,” he added. “We want PSG to be a great team, and I want to continue doing what I’ve done every day in Paris – play football and be happy. That is the most important thing.”
