Paris, the Seleçao, Saudi Arabia, Neymar says everything in an exclusive interview on RMC

For his first interview since his departure from PSG, Neymar Jr., the Brazilian star who marked the club's history, speaks exclusively to RMC. The capital's striker from 2017 to 2023 speaks to Marion Bartoli and Benoît Boutron. From his golden years at PSG to his new challenge in Saudi Arabia, the Brazilian looks back on the highlights of his career: from Paris to Riyadh, through his injury, his departure from the Parisian club, or even his future ambitions in Seleção with the 2026 world cup…

Marion Bartoli: How are you? Will you be back on the field soon?

Neymar Jr: I feel good, I feel better. I returned to the field, but unfortunately, I am still injured (muscle injury after two matches played with Al Hilal, reigning champion of Saudi Arabia, Editor's note). The luck I have is that the injury is less significant today. And I'll be back soon.

MB: How did you make the decision to join Al Hilal and the Saudi League? Do you like it here?

I decided to leave PSG and this offer to join Al Hilal arrived… I got the offer just after I left, because I was simply no longer happy there, at PSG. The club and the coach no longer wanted to use me. They had already told me about it, so I had to make a decision. And I liked Al Hilal's proposal. I got to know this club, the local culture and the championship. I was very surprised by my welcome here and the kindness of the supporters. The championship is growing, so is our team and with my family, we are sure we made a good decision.

MB: How is life in Saudi Arabia? Would you recommend other players to join you?

I am really very happy here. And all the players who want to come here are surprised by the level or certain very positive aspects of this championship.

MB: Unfortunately you had a serious knee injury in October 2023, but every time this has happened to you in your career, you have managed to come back stronger. How do you do?

I think it's above all a question of mentality. An injury is always very complicated for an athlete to manage, especially with such a serious injury as I had and then returning to high level is not easy. It's really a question of mentality with obviously the people who are around you to help you. It's really not easy, but the people around me, my family and my friends have been very supportive. It even made me stronger to be able to recover and progress mentally.

Benoît Boutron: Will we see the great Neymar again? Do you still love football as much?

Obviously I am passionate about football. I agree that my sporting years at PSG were surely the best for me. But it was very sad for me, because I often had very serious injuries that could last from three, four to six months. It bothered me a lot, but on a football level, on a sporting level, it was the best Neymar they had in my entire career. So I'm happy to have been able to offer this to French football, but on the one hand, there is also this feeling of sadness… Because I didn't do an entire season, only the year 2020, when we reached the Champions League final. It really was a great year when I look back on it. I will never forget these moments, they are engraved in my heart.

MB: The Seleçao is looking forward to your return! They need you. There is a Brazil without Neymar and a much better Brazil with Neymar. Do you think you will return to the national team in March?

Absolutely, yes, yes, I will be back. I'm getting ready for it and I'm even excited. I should have been called for this meeting (in November, Editor's note), but after discussion with the coach, he decided not to call me. Next time, I will surely be with my teammates, I am preparing for it in any case. There is nothing better than representing your country. We hope that the team will improve, it is evolving. We must not forget that the team is young, we have potential and we will have to exploit it as quickly as possible so that we can become a great team.

BB: You had the chance to win the Olympics with Brazil in Rio in 2016. Is winning the World Cup in 2026 the last big goal of your career?

I first want to have a good season with Al-Hilal. I'm coming back from a very serious injury. I still have a little time to get back to my level and show why I'm here. My priority is there: to recover well, develop physically and simply play again. I would like to play the 2025 Club World Cup with Al-Hilal, because it is very important for the club. Obviously the World Cup is the goal for all players. I have already played three World Cups, I obviously want to do the fourth. I have to be focused on that, prepare well here and have this medium-term goal after getting back into shape here at my club.

MB: Neymar, you are the top scorer in the history of the Seleçao, ahead of King Pelé! This is an incredible accomplishment. Could little Neymar, when you were a child, dream of achieving that one day or is it beyond all your dreams?

I have exceeded all the dreams I had as a child. When I was little, my dream was to play for Santos and the Seleçao. But God has given me much more. I am very happy with my career, I played in very big clubs. And today I am the top scorer in the history of the Seleçao, I am very happy to have accomplished this. It represents a lot of work, a lot of effort. I have dedicated myself a lot to this national selection and to mark the history of my country is something magnificent, it is an honor. I think my children will see that I was important in the history of my country.

MB: Of course you played for PSG, Ligue 1 misses you with your incredible technical prowess. How do you judge your experience in France and at PSG?

My experience at PSG was good and bad at the same time… Good, because football-wise, I think I was at the peak of my career. And bad, because I was injured for a long time and often… I didn't finish a season. So there was sadness. I will not forget the great times I had here, especially the Champions League final. They were truly incredible moments. We could have won, but a final is decided on details… Playing in Ligue 1 was really a good experience, the fans were great to me. I wrote my story in Ligue 1, it was good for my career. I am proud and happy to have participated in this. Now it's over and I have to focus on Saudi Arabia and my club Al-Hilal.

BB: Do you think that this Champions League final with PSG, the one lost against Bayern Munich, could have changed your story with Paris? Did it have an impact on your Parisian career?

We must not forget that we took the club to its first Champions League final. Unfortunately, we didn't win. But that's part of football and sport in general. You can't always win. PSG had the objective of reaching the final and we achieved it. Moreover, the club still has this objective and they are fully invested in this quest. It's true that I have already won with FC Barcelona. When I think about it, the victories with Barça remain incredible moments. I would have liked to win with PSG because winning a Champions League is like winning a World Cup with your country.

BB: Your arrival in Paris was extraordinary, a chance for France to welcome a player of your talent. The highest transfer in the history of football, 222 million euros, the amount of your release clause at Barcelona, ​​a welcome message on the Eiffel Tower, the supporters adored you, admired you… For six seasons, he there were ups and downs… How would you define this relationship? What message do you want to send today to all the French people who admired you?

The first year was magnificent, I was very well received by the French people and supporters. The last two, three years haven't been the same, it wasn't incredible the way I was treated, it's the same for Lionel Messi. For me, there was injustice, because I always gave my all on the pitch. I have no hard feelings, but I was a little sad about the way I was treated by the supporters, especially when they came to my house, when they wanted to invade my house, insult me ​​or want to hit me. For me, they crossed the line. Our relationship was no longer respectful, while I always respected them… It was really a complicated situation. I was sad by the way I was treated at the end, but it passed. I respect the PSG club and I will always support them so that they have the best results. I have no resentment towards the club, I just have a little resentment towards people who manage the club and some supporters. But that's in the past. It's the club where I spent the most time in my career, six years. I experienced some very beautiful moments, but also some sad moments. And my relationship with the supporters is rather one of the sad moments, unfortunately. But on a sporting level, it was the best football I played. So I'm happy and I have a clear conscience about that.

MB: I would like to tell you about the Instituto Neymar Jr in Brazil, in Praia Grande and everything you do for children and their parents. I believe you help over 3,000 children a day. What is your goal with the Instituto Neymar Jr?

Our goal is to put people at the center of the institution, from 7 to 17 years old. We want to give them opportunities they wouldn't have had anywhere else. I know that for some of them it is very complicated. A lot has changed in certain neighborhoods. We see men and women who are now working. They thank me and that is priceless. To have a smile from someone who reminds me of what I was able to do for them is great. It's really something good. It goes beyond football and money. Seeing these people happy is wonderful. We help a lot of children, but also a lot of families. Our focus is the family in the global sense. A lot of things are being done at the institute in this direction. If people want to see what we are putting together, the doors are open. You will surely be surprised to see everything that has been built in the center.

MB: Gigi Buffon, your former teammate, has just said that you were the best player he had encountered during his career… However, he came across Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane, Iniesta. He added that Neymar should have won at least five Ballons d'Or. Do you have any regrets when you analyze your career?

It's always very gratifying to hear such words, especially coming from one of the best goalkeepers in history who knows football very well. It's just incredible. You train every day, you play every week, your life is dedicated to football to give the best of yourself. And to be recognized like that is just awesome. Gigi Buffon is one of the greatest players in history. We became friends when we were teammates. I never thought I would play with him. I called him “Vieille”, “Vovo”, “Papi” (laughs), so I obviously have a lot of affection for him. He taught me a lot, we suffered together, we fought together. We had wonderful moments with PSG. But I really thank him for what he said. Playing football is not easy today, but when you love something, you forget everything and want to concentrate fully on being the best you can be. I am now prepared to quickly return to the field this season with my club and the Seleçao.