Paris Saint-Germain's world record signing Neymar launched a scathing attack on his former club's directors, saying "Barca deserve much better". "I want to speak the truth, I'm very sad with them," said the Brazilian star who cost the Paris club a world record €222 million to prise from Barcelona. "For me, they are not the people who should be there, for the direction of Barca," said Neymar.
At the start, I was happy. I spent four beautiful years there and I parted happily. But with them (the club's directors), no. "For me, they are not the people who should be there, for the direction of Barca," said Neymar. "Barca deserves much better and the whole world knows it."
Despite securing the massive fee for Neymar, Barcelona are struggling to replace him before the transfer window closes. The club has had bids in excess of €100 million for Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele turned down. And the club has been criticised for splashing out €40 million for Brazil midfielder Paulinho, who has spent two years at Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
But Neymar said he could not comment on what the club was doing before the transfer window closes at the end of the month. "I cannot speak now I am in another team. I don't know what's going on there, but I see my old teammates sad, and it's that which makes me sad because I have a lot of friends there," he said. "I hope that things will improve for Barca and that they will become a team that can rival others."