Neymar signs for Santos: The prince who never became king at Barcelona or PSG

PSG paid a world-record €222m (£200m) fee that remains unsurpassed to this day.

In Paris, Neymar often operated with more freedom, shifting into a central role where he orchestrated attacks and created from deeper positions.

More freedom on the pitch was coupled with more commercial obligations off it.

“His love for the game was taken from him in Paris, he became an industry,” Balague said.

“In fact, when he was at PSG, his contract said he could dedicate days to training and others to commercial opportunities.

“After that his head started going in different directions. He would play the PlayStation until three in the morning and wouldn’t be able to train properly, but on a matchday he would come out with something genius.”

Neymar’s time in Paris delivered multiple domestic titles, but it lacked the defining European triumph PSG wanted.

The closest they came was the 2020 Champions League final, with a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich in which the Brazilian played the full 90 minutes.

Although Neymar’s individual brilliance flashed at times, injuries and off-field distractions defined much of his time in Paris.

Tensions grew, too, as the arrival of Kylian Mbappe and previous team-mate Lionel Messi complicated Neymar’s role in the team.

Speaking on a podcast with Brazil legend Romario,, external Neymar said: “I have my things with Kylian Mbappe. We fought a little, but he was fundamental for us. I always helped him, talked to him, but when Messi came, he got a little jealous.”

Injuries compounded Neymar’s frustrations, with his last game coming during the 2022-23 season before ankle surgery ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.