Neymar's father has revealed the real reason why his son left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain, and it involves club legend Lionel Messi.

Neymar’s record-breaking move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 remains one of the most talked-about transfers in football history. The €222 million deal not only shattered the world transfer record but also marked the end of an era for Barcelona’s famed 'MSN' attacking trio of Neymar, Messi and Luis Suarez. For years, the personal reasons behind Neymar’s decision to leave Camp Nou were shrouded in mystery. However, his father, Neymar Sr., has now disclosed the surprising factor that led to this monumental move.

According to Neymar Sr., his son’s decision to leave Barcelona was not motivated by financial incentives or dissatisfaction but rather by a desire to avoid taking the spotlight from Messi.

“Going to PSG was his decision, he decided to change," he said on the 'Jota Jota Podcast'. "At that time we were in a very difficult situation at Barca because we didn’t know what the sporting management thought. It seemed that the club wanted him to take Messi’s place and he didn’t want that. He decided to leave, to go somewhere else. I wanted my son to stay at Barca. Until the last days, we tried to keep him from leaving. But he left because he didn’t want to take Messi’s position and be Barca’s biggest star."

Neymar’s loyalty to Barcelona was evident even before he joined the club. His father also shared insights into how Neymar prioritised his dream of playing at Camp Nou and in the process rejected Real Madrid, who were willing to pay more to the Brazilian.

"Signing for Barca was entirely his decision," Neymar Sr. said. "I had in my hands offers from Barca and Madrid. The one from Madrid was three times higher. And he said no, he wanted to play with those guys (Suarez and Messi). His dream was to play for Barcelona.”

However, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez previously denied the claims, asserting that Madrid could not compete with Barcelona’s financial offer. The exact details of the competing offers remain unclear, but Neymar’s decision underscores his preference for joining a team that aligned with his ambitions and dreams, rather than one offering the highest pay check.

At PSG, Neymar sought to step out of Messi’s shadow and establish himself as the central figure in a team with its own aspirations. The duo later reunited at the Parc des Princes and although they won two league titles together, they failed to guide the Parisians to Champions League glory, which was the primary objective of the club hierarchy. However, a reunion might be on the cards again, as Messi's Inter Miami are reportedly keen on signing Neymar to end an injury-ravaged spell in the Middle East.