Two of the biggest football players, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for six years, from 2017 to 2023. Despite their impressive goal total of 54 as a powerful partnership on paper, sources indicate that their relationship off the field was far from ideal. Neymar even went so far as to call his time spent playing alongside Mbappe “hell,” a clear warning to his other Brazilian teammates who are currently at Real Madrid.
A tense alliance at PSG
Tension was evident in the interaction between the two players. Even though they scored goals together, Neymar and Mbappe were said to have had trouble getting along. Their rivalry was noteworthy, particularly since they were on the same team and competed for the same position of prominence. Neymar has voiced his displeasure with the pairing, allegedly alerting Vinicius Jr. and other Brazilian colleagues at Real Madrid to the challenges of playing with the French superstar.
Journalist Cyril Hanouna clarified Neymar’s emotions in an interview with Europe 1. Hanouna claims that Neymar wrote a note to the Brazilian players at Real Madrid, referring to his time with Mbappe as “catastrophic” and “hell.” The Brazilian forward’s heated rhetoric seems to be expressing long-standing discontent.
The ‘Super Trio’ Who Failed to Meet Expectations
Lionel Messi joined Neymar and Mbappe at PSG in 2021, forming what many believed to be an unbeatable three. Expecting the three football icons to rule European football, fans went crazy around the globe. But the three fell short of what was expected of them. Though each participant brought a unique flair and vision to the game, their combined magic never fully came together. All three had departed PSG by 2023: Mbappe signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid, Messi joined Inter Miami, and Neymar joined Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian team.
Mbappe’s Successful, Yet Troubled Time at PSG
It is impossible to overstate Mbappe’s importance to PSG, even in light of the conflict between him and Neymar. With an incredible 256 goals over his eight years there, he became the club’s all-time best scorer. In addition, he assisted PSG in winning 17 trophies, securing his status as one of the greatest players in the team’s history.
The fact that Mbappe left PSG amicably only served to highlight the tense dynamics amongst the players. Nevertheless, Mbappe’s stellar start at Real Madrid shows that he is still a quality talent. Mbappe scored in the 75th minute of a recent La Liga game against Real Sociedad to give his new team a 2-0 victory. Since coming, he has scored three goals.
Neymar’s Warning to Real Madrid’s Brazilians
Neymar has warned his fellow Brazilian teammates at Real Madrid that he thinks it would be difficult to play with Mbappe. Neymar’s remarks offer an intriguing perspective into the dynamics that Vinicius Jr. and other Brazilian players, who make up a sizable portion of Real Madrid’s roster, may encounter with Mbappe in the years to come.
Despite their on-paper success, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe’s partnership was characterized by underlying tension and discontent. Recent remarks from Neymar express his discontent and portray a picture of a challenging working relationship between himself and the French superstar. It’s unclear how these dynamics will impact Mbappe’s new club as he continues his career at Real Madrid, especially in light of Neymar’s lingering warning.