Neymar started the season as PSG’s most important player, with eight goals and seven assists in La Liga so far this season, but his time at the club has not gone as planned.
Kylian Mbappe has scored seven goals in La Liga and three in European competition.
The comparison between the two has since become a hot topic, with Neymar speaking about his teammates in Brazil this week.
“My relationship with Kylian? I don’t know,” he said. However, both players worked on the pitch, but PSG sporting director Luis Campos has admitted that the club made a mistake signing both Neymar and Mbappe.
Luis Campos’ acknowledgment of the situation
The Ligue 1 champions have invested heavily in the pair, with Neymar spending a world-record €222 million in 2017, followed by Mbappe’s arrival in the French capital, first from Monaco on loan for €100 million. Transferred outright for €80 million.
Luis Campos told the ‘Rothens enflamme’ podcast that signing both players may not have been a wise decision for the club. Luis Campos also stated that –
“We made the mistake in the past of recruiting two players in the same position,” he reflected.
“The transfer window is not good because we are missing players in key positions and because we have overlapping players in other positions.”
Success brought by the signings
A defeat to FC Bayern Munich in 2020 final would have most likely delivered victory, so the two stars’ hard work has yet to help the club win the coveted Champions League.
Nonetheless, Neymar was successful in terms of stats, both in Christophe Galtier’s side, as in his 155 games he scored 111 goals and won his four league titles with the Paris side.
Mbappe has scored 181 goals in his 226 appearances at Parc des Princes, the same number of league titles as any Brazilian player.
The tense environment among the players
As reported by the Daily Mail, Mbappe doesn’t mind Neymar leaving the club this summer and doesn’t want the 30-year-old Neymar in the squad.
They also added that Neymar was “blown away by the influence the 23-year-old French striker has had at PSG”.
The pair collapsed on the pitch last month when Mbappe missed a penalty and called for his second chance, according to the same media.
Neymar scored from his 12 yards and the French star scored late in the game but refused to celebrate with his teammates.
