'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
The Brazilian international joined Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record €222 million fee during the summer of 2017, which led many to doubt his ambitions to leave LaLiga for Ligue 1. Neymar's father recently revealed that his son didn’t leave Barcelona to escape from Lionel Messi’s shadow.
In case you didn't know...
The 27-year-old is one of the best footballers in the world at the moment and arguably only behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It shocked many when Neymar decided to leave Barcelona for PSG in 2017.
He later said in a press conference that he decided to leave Barcelona as he wanted something bigger.
"I wanted something bigger, a bigger challenge. My heart made the decision and made me follow that ambition and that is why I am here today. I want to dream bigger, to do my best and to do even better."
The heart of the matter
Neymar father talked about his son's intention to leave the Catalan giants. According to Marca, he mentioned,
“It was not to get out of Messi’s shadow,” he explained.
”It was a very complex situation.
”We were asked for help to give visibility to a league. If you look between the lines, it’s much greater than only Neymar’s ambition.”
He also added,
"I've never set that as my son's goal."
"I don't think he has either, but he wants to play in the best leagues, at big clubs and I'm sure he has ambition."
What's next?
Though Neymar led PSG to Ligue 1 title last season, he has not fulfilled the primary reason why PSG bought him - UEFA Champions League. PSG are in the round of 16 this season and are well placed to qualify for the quarter-final, after a 2-0 win over Manchester United in the first leg.
