Soccer star Neymar has said he hopes to stay at Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team amid rumors of leaving the French club and after casting doubt on his international future due to the Seleçao failure at the 2022 World Cup.
“I hope (to play this season) at PSG, I have a contract with Paris Saint-Germain and so far no one has told me anything” about a possible departure, said the Brazilian number 10 in an interview broadcast Wednesday on the YouTube channel of the influential sports journalist Casimiro Miguel.
“I am calm, even if there is not much love between the supporters and the player. I will be there (…) with or without love,” he said, laughing, during an interview recorded on June 22.
The future of “Ney”, 31, has been the subject of speculation during the current transfer window due to his repeated injuries and the restructuring of the Parisian team, now coached by Spaniard Luis Enrique.
The striker had been sidelined since February with a right ankle injury, but returned to training with PSG last week.
“It’s an annoying injury, it’s very uncomfortable. The process was very painful and it’s very difficult, but I’m looking to come back well (…) Obviously, victory is always part of the objectives, but I want to play well again, that’s the first thing, “he said.
Neymar also assured that he would continue to wear the colors of the Brazilian national team, after leaving doubts following the defeat on penalties of the Seleçao against Croatia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup-2022 in Qatar.
“After the World Cup, I didn’t want to (continue), not because of the pain of having lost, but to prevent my family from suffering, it weighs a lot. But they will still have to put up with that,” he added with a laugh.
“I thought about it again, because I really want” to win the world title, which Brazil has not won since 2002, explained Neymar.
Following the departure of Brazil coach Tite, the five-time world champions will be coached by Brazilian Fernando Diniz until Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti completes his contract with Real Madrid in mid-2024, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced in early July.
