‘I know Neymar wanted the Ballon d'Or’

Barca defender Gerard Pique says that he understood the reason for Neymar leaving Barcelona and suggests that he is still good friends with the Brazilian.

Pique admitted to the Telegraph that the move hurt Barcelona but did not ruin the friendship that he developed with the PSG star. “My relationship (with Neymar) is really strong. Even though it really hurt the club when he left.”

Neymar is one of the hottest properties in the world football at the moment. At PSG, he is the star of the show and commands adulation from the fans. The Brazilian is 25 years old and he wants the individual prizes to his name as well. Pique suggested that it’s difficult to find players to play for a single club throughout their career.

"It is very difficult to find a player who stays at the same club for the whole of their career," he said.

“I know Neymar wanted the Ballon d’Or so I think it is fair he left for Paris where he will be the main star. If he does a good job in the Champions League and in France he has options to win the Ballon d’Or.”

Pique understands that as a Barcelona fan it may be difficult to come to terms with the way Neymar left the club but said that he also understood what Neymar was looking for.

“As a friend I could understand his decision and why he wanted to go to Paris. I tried to be fair to him no matter what. As a Barcelona fan it hurts and I understand that maybe some Barcelona fans are disappointed about how he left.”