FORMER Brazil star Juninho slammed compatriot Neymar as a money grabber who needs to “grow up”.
The Paris Saint-Germain ace, 28, currently earns a staggering £600,000 a week with the Ligue 1 giants.
Neymar is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, with a weekly wage of £600,000 at Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Getty – Contributor
But reports last week suggested he is desperate to force his way out of the club by rejecting a new deal in order to return to Barcelona.
It was suggested Neymar would even be willing to slash his mammoth wages in half to get a deal over the line.
However, Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu revealed a transfer is “unlikely” due to the financial impact of the coronavirus.
Regardless, ex-Selecao hero Juninho hit out at the forward for his attitude and behaviour – although did show understanding and sympathy for his massive wages due to the culture he was raised in.
He told The Guardian: “In Brazil we are taught to care only about money but in Europe they have a different mentality. I was taught to go to who would pay me the most. That is the Brazilian way.
“Look at Neymar. He moved to PSG just because of money.
“PSG gave everything to him, everything he wanted, and now he wants to leave before the end of his contract.
“The problem is that the establishment in Brazil has a culture of greed and always want more money.
“This is what we were taught and what we learned. It is simply what he learned.
As a person, I think he is guilty because he needs to question himself and grow up.
Juninho on Neymar
“As a person, I think he is guilty because he needs to question himself and grow up.
“At the moment, however, he is just doing what life taught him to do.”
Neymar – who joined PSG for a world-record £198million in 2017 – has scored 69 goals in just 80 appearances for the French giants.
In that time, they have also won all three Ligue 1 titles as well as the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue in 2018.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are back in training and face Le Havre in a friendly on Sunday.
That is because they have the Coupe de France final against Saint-Etienne on July 24 and take on Lyon in the Coupe de la League showpiece a week later.
But although Neymar clearly has bags of talent, Juninho wants to see the ex-Santos man step up off the field as well as on it.
He added: “Now is the time [for Neymar] to give back, to show gratitude. It’s an exchange, you see.
“Neymar needs to give everything he can on the pitch, to show total dedication, responsibility and leadership.
“I need to differentiate between Neymar as a player and Neymar as a person.
“As a player, he is in the top three in the world, at the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.
“He is fast, tough, can score and make assists as a real No10.”
Former Lyon and Brazil star Juninho hit out at his compatriot Neymar and told him to step up off the fieldCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
Neymar ordered to pay Barcelona £6m in court settlement after he demanded £39m in unpaid signing-on bonus
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
