Neymar’s dad reveals he urged son to stay at Barcelona… and denies Edinson Cavani rift
Brazilian's father and agent also revealed his son is more excited about trying to help PSG win their first Champions League title than Ballon d'Or hunt
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NEYMAR would still be a Barcelona player had he listened to his dad.
The Brazilian stunned the world by completing his £198million Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
His father, Neymar Sr, reportedly earned a whopping £23m in agent fees for the world-record transfer.
But he told Telefoot: "I was the one who hesitated until the last moment.
"I told him that the best choice was to stay but he wanted to take a risk.
"It was difficult, but Neymar wanted this challenge and we supported him.
"We were all proud when he was presented at PSG. To see Neymar projected onto the Eiffel Tower was incredible. He loves everything here."
Neymar, 25, is thought to have left Barca with the aim of winning the Ballon d'Or.
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Playing alongside five-time winner Lionel Messi and Uruguay strike ace Luis Suarez meant chances to shine were more limited for the forward.
But his father claims it is the collective honour of helping PSG win their first Champions League that motivated the move.
He added: "To help Paris win the Champions League motivated him. If Neymar should win the Ballon d’Or, he will, but I don’t think that he really wants it. If he wanted that he could have remained at Barcelona.
"We signed a five-year contract, so we have five years to win the Champions League with PSG."
PSG's front line boasts a mouth-watering array of talent in Neymar, Edinson Cavani and fellow new boy Kylian Mbappe.
But Neymar and Cavani locked horns early in their partnership by rowing over a penalty against Lyon.
Reports suggested there was a dressing-room rift between the pair but the Samba star's dad has denied those claims.
He said: "The proportions taken by the Neymar-Cavani story have been amplified. Everything is fine between them.
"Now, the attacking line of PSG will inspire the next generations. For us, it’s a gift that Mbappe is here because he plays like a 30-year-old.
"It's no problem if he is a challenger for the Ballon d’Or. In few years, he will be in that category of players."
