PSG right-back Dani Alves has revealed that he was aware fellow countryman Neymar would leave Spanish giants Barcelona in the summer for Paris.
Barca legend Xavi revealed that Neymar had let slip on his imminent move to the French capital on Lionel Messi’s wedding day, however, it would seem that Dani Alves had known of Neymar’s world-record £198m move before everyone else.
Reported by Spanish publication Marca, Alves revealed: “I knew that he aspired to do other things and that he wanted to leave Barcelona. I knew his intentions since the get together of the Brazilian team [in June this year]. We are both passionate about challenges but Neymar had doubts again on his return to Catalonia. At that moment I thought that we were not going to play together again in a team that was not Barcelona. But, in the end, it happened, he came and I am very happy. I can assure you of our desire to do great things, just as we did in the past.”
Alves also revealed that having the knowledge that Neymar was going to make the switch to PSG was a major influence in signing for the club himself, after making the switch from Juventus during the summer.
“If I can meet my goals with the people I most appreciate, so much the better,” he said.
Neymar has hit the ground running at PSG, justifying his gargantuan price-tag with breath-taking goals, assists and skills. In the 25-year-old’s ten games for the Parisians, he has registered an impressive nine goals and seven assists in all competitions.
In what was an incredibly productive summer in the French capital, which also saw the arrival of Monaco wonderkid Kylian Mbappe on loan, Alves reserved special praise for the rising star.
“Mbappe is young but his progression has been very fast and he has incredible qualities,” Alves said.
“It’s a pleasure for me to play with players of that level.”