The Brazil international is widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation, enjoying unprecedented success at Barcelona before being signed for a world-record €222 million fee by PSG in 2017.
Neymar hasn’t been able to reach his full potential
Thomas Meunier has defended divisive PSG star Neymar, insisting that the Brazilian deserves his colossal income. The Brazil international is widely regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation, enjoying unprecedented success at Barcelona before being signed for a world-record €222 million fee by PSG in 2017. The 28-year-old has added more silverware to his glittering CV at Parc des Princes. Still, it has also been regularly criticised for his alleged lack of commitment and penchant for unnecessary theatres, suggesting that he hasn’t been able to reach his full potential. Nevertheless, Neymar remains one of the highest-paid players in the game despite his detractors, and Meunier believes he fully deserves this status after seeing how much he works on his game at PSG up close.
The Brazilian deserves that privilege
The Borussia Dortmund defender, who played three years with Neymar in Paris before moving to Westfalenstadion in 2020, told reporters when asked for the special treatment his former teammate receives: “It just comes with his strength as a player. The best player gets the highest salary and is therefore in such a strong position to determine a lot or have many influential words. Neymar has done a lot to be better than others and therefore deserves this privilege. Whether it’s him, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they are all professional, powerful and heard because they are great players with charisma and have done a lot for football. So I think you need to listen to them because what they say will always be in the best interest of the whole.”
Meunier added about the personal qualities of Neymar: “He loves to invite his teammates to parties or restaurants. Neymar is a simple guy in his personal life. He also does not dive in the restaurant either! He, like many Brazilians, always smiles, jokes and loves to communicate. So it is easy to integrate him into a group. Also, Edinson Cavani or Thiago Silva, are all normal people.”