Neymar Jr. has been in the spotlight after not being called up to play against Cruzeiro with Santos FC or in Brazil’s friendlies against France and Croatia as a precaution following a muscle strain. However, he’s back in the spotlight-but because of a decision from his past.
In 2017, at the height of his career with Barcelona, Ney surprised everyone by confirming that he would leave for France to play for Paris Saint-Germain. Years later, a former teammate shared his thoughts on the matter.
Montoya reveals what Neymar’s farewell was like
Recently, on March 24, 2026, Martn Montoya announced his retirement from professional soccer in an interview with journalist Rodrigo Rea, but he also took the opportunity to reflect on his experience at Barcelona and several events he went through. One of them was Neymar’s departure to PSG.
Montoya and Neymar Jr. were teammates on Barcelona’s first team, winning the historic 2014-15 treble together. Now, nearly a decade after that historic transfer for approximately 222 million euros, Montoya recalled how he experienced his departure and revealed:
“It was a surprise to everyone. Neymar arrived young, did it all at Bara, was an undisputed starter, and among the best in the world alongside Leo and Cristiano [Ronaldo]. I was very surprised by that move to PSG,” he admitted.
Reflecting on the possible reasons that might have led him to make this decision, Martn offered his hypothesis: “Maybe he wanted to try to win a Ballon d’Or, but I think that if he had stayed at Bara, he would have achieved more personal goals,” he said.
Although the idea that Neymar left to win the Ballon d’Or was gaining traction at the time, it was not the decisive factor-nor, of course, the only one. The prevailing narrative suggested that, in reality, the player wanted to step out of Leo Messi’s shadow and lead his own project. In fact, his father confirmed this in an interview with Bolavip, stating that although he wanted him to stay at Bara, Neymar had already made up his mind.
However, years later, Leo and Ney reunited at PSG, when the Argentine signed with the club in 2021 after leaving Barcelona, sharing two more seasons as teammates. Then, their paths diverged again: Messi headed to Inter Miami in the MLS and Neymar to Al-Hilal, before returning to Santos, where both currently play.
In addition, Montoya revealed the close bond within the powerful “MSN” trio of Leo, Ney, and Luis Surez: “They had a great connection on and off the field; they were super close friends, they’d have barbecues, hang out together-they got along really well. On the field, they were amazing; they really enjoyed playing together,” Martn commented, dispelling any doubts about their relationship.
Today, far from being a simple matter, his departure from Barcelona continues to raise questions, but one thing is certain: Neymar’s time at Bara is unforgettable.
