Neymar: Star can’t play, but his recruiting pays big for PSG
PARIS— Even before joining Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar was assisting the team.
Dani Alves disclosed Saturday that Neymar said the Brazil defender should move to the French capital last month — and not to Manchester City — after being let go by Juventus.
Neymar also let former Barcelona teammate Alves know he was thinking about making the record-breaking 222 million euro ($330 million) transfer from the Camp Nou.
“I talked to him about the possibility,” Alves said. “He recommended me to come here. He suggested that I come to the club. I said I wanted to leave Juventus, and he was thinking of coming here.”
While Alves made his PSG debut on Saturday in a 2-0 win against Amiens, Neymar was unable to play after his international clearance didn’t come through in time.
“There is anticipation because of the football he plays and his will to show it to the world,” said the 35year-old Alves, who won the Spanish league, Champions League and Club World Cup alongside Neymar at Barcelona. “You take a giant step when you have a player of this level to play against the other teams. This team will get a quality leap forward.”
Neymar’s transfer more than doubled the previous world transfer record set a year ago when Manchester United paid 105 million euros to sign Paul Pogba.
“We are not moved by money,” Alves said. “Few people leave their comfort zone, and we are Brazilians. Brazilians do that.”
Neymar’s move to PSG raised eyebrows because he is leaving storied Barcelona for a club that has never won the Champions League.
“It isn’t only about Barcelona, about Spanish clubs,” Alves said. “There is life, challenge and football in other places. Neymar coming changes PSG’s position for sure. It is inevitable that there are expectations. His greatness brings all that.”