The reason Neymar left Barcelona, according to a football agent, was “what happened after the 6-1 match.”
Reason why Neymar left Barcelona after the 6-1 match
With FC Barcelona, Neymar Jr. was destined to reach new heights. The only player in recent club history who might have challenged Lionel Messi for the club’s championship was the Brazilian. However, it wasn’t meant to be.
In a stunning move to Paris in 2017, the superstar departed Barcelona, and since then, his career has not reached the heights anticipated.
In a recent lengthy interview with AS, Brazilian super agent Andre Cury went into great detail on the different Brazilian possibilities that are now on the market, the current crop of Brazilian stars, and Neymar Jr. in particular.
Cury played a significant role in brokering Neymar’s transfer to Barcelona and even served as the team’s scout in Brazil up to 2020.
Neymar could have won Ballon d’Ors at Barcelona, says Cury
The PSG winger’s conversation with Cury, who also represents Vitor Roque, started with memories of the player’s time at Barcelona and the endless efforts Real Madrid made to get him to Madrid.
“He was spectacular. Neymar has everything. Real Madrid never accepted having lost Neymar and have always been looking to sign him.”
Vinicius and Rodrygo are great players, but they are not Neymar. When he was at Barcelona he was spectacular and I think he made a serious mistake when switching to Ligue 1,” he added,
criticizing the Selecao player’s choice to leave Catalonia.
The Brazilian missed the opportunity to win the Ballon d’Or, the man continued, making a huge statement, saying:
“Neymar, if he hadn’t left Barcelona, he would surely have one or two Ballon d’Ors.”
Neymar’s departure
Cury continued by explaining Neymar’s surprising €222 million transfer to PSG and blaming it on Barcelona’s historic 6-1 victory over PSG.
I think he left because of what happened after the 6-1 match against PSG. Neymar had won that game practically alone and on the front pages of the next day the one who came out was Lionel Messi.”
“He has a very good relationship with Messi, of course. He didn’t want to compete with Leo because he loves him very much. From there all his friends told him that he was going to be wrong[if he left Barcelona], that in two months he was going to ask to come back, but you won’t be able to,” he added.
The Brazilian agent went on to explain Barcelona’s decision to incorporate a €222 million release clause in Neymar’s contract, despite his recommendations.
“When Neymar arrived, I told them to put a one-billion euro clause, but they ended up putting one of €190 million, the first time. I asked them why it was so low to which they replied that it couldn’t be more than Leo’s release clause which was €250 million.”
Struggles at PSG and possible return to Barça
When Cury was directly asked if the Brazilian sensation regretted joining PSG, he responded,
“Yes. He can’t speak for it now, but he does. Look at the confusion that there is now. There is no quiet or happy day.”
The day he left Barcelona, the 31-year-old’s career started to fall apart. His ability on the field has never been in doubt, but a string of ailments has made his time in Paris miserable. In reference to Neymar’s physical condition, Cury said:
‘‘Most of his injuries begin in Paris. In Barcelona, he had a problem with the metatarsal because of the boots and such.”
The superagent was questioned about what a 17-year-old Neymar would be valued at in the current market. No European team, he said, would ever consider selling a player of such calibre, and he declined to provide a price for the same reason.
‘‘In Europe, he wouldn’t be worth anything because the one who had him wouldn’t sell him. Barcelona lost him because it’s a club that I don’t understand. It happened with Figo 20 years ago, but luckily Neymar didn’t end up at Real Madrid.”
Finally, Cury was questioned about the Brazilian’s potential summer transfer from PSG to Barcelona. Although he did not completely rule out the player’s exit, he did acknowledge that the Blaugranas could no longer afford him.
