Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain last summer with the aim of bringing a Champions League title to the French capital, but the Parisians are already out of this year's edition of the continental tournament.
This is exactly what some Barcelona players warned the Brazilian might happen.
Although injury prevented him from playing in the second leg, the first-leg defeat to Real Madrid had already left PSG with a mountain to climb, highlighting just how far behind the European elite they remain.
Gerard Pique was one of the members of the Blaugrana squad who tried the hardest to convince Neymar to stay when the rumours started circling last summer.
"We will try to stay close to him so that he makes the right decision," the centre-back said from the United States, where the Catalan club had their pre-season tour.
"He has to think about what the priority is for him.
"What does he want? More titles? More money?"
Others, such as Luis Suarez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi held a similar view, believing that going to France might not pay off in a sporting sense.
The rain, the cold and the lack of a beach were other reasons presented to Neymar when members of the squad were trying to persuade him to stay at the Camp Nou.
Directors such as Josep Maria Bartomeu, Robert Fernandez and Raul Sanllehi all tried to warn him and to convince him to stay too, however PSG's Maxwell Scherrer and Antero Henrique had a bigger influence on his thinking and then managed to persuade him to move to France.
He was offered more promises, money and privileges whenever he had second thoughts and they even signed his friend Dani Alves.
Ultimately, the 26-year-old packed his bags and left the Catalan capital.
Now in Paris, he'll be watching the rest of the Champions League on the television, from the quarter-finals stage onwards, something that never happened during his time at Barcelona, where he also won 10 titles in four years.
shray_srivastava
207
Neymar is a thing if the past, though I still feel the chances of him returning to Barca are more than him signing for Real (my opinion), PSG played dirty tactics and had their marketing officials right on point, they showed him a movie, in which he's the hero having the world under his feet, they made him believe that what he was achieving in Barca, he could achieve even more because of his capabilities, they showed him a vision for Ballon dor, they used the power of money to get the best possible marketing visuals of the future, but, but, but, Barcelona & Real are legacy teams, money cannot overshadow the success these teams have achieved over the past century.
rozaylanez
121
I so like this ๐๐zlatan " I the great zlatan failed to win UCL with psg so who are you to make them win" [Cry]๐๐๐
Tweneboah21
101
Me: Neymar, why did you leave F. C BARCELONA? neymar : I WANT TO CHALLENGE LEONEL MESSI that's why. Me: now you see your life?? Neymar : I've made a big mistake for not staying there. Me: so now what are you doing? Neymar : I want you to tell BARCELONA board members and their officials that, I WANT TO COME BACK ๐ TO BARCA.... PLEASE!!!!! [Cry][Cry][Cry] Me: Are you SERIOUS???
jinusaji
78
Really the joy this article brings me is immense
sheriluv
57
Although injury prevented him from playing in the second leg, the first-leg defeat to Real Madrid had already left PSG with a mountain to climb, highlighting just how far behind the European elite they remain.
UtsavKoirala
44
PSG's money went into waste.
jerieskh
31
I believe that he made a great mistake by leaving BARC. but still this doesn't come into cotrary with the fact that he is one of the most skillful and clever players in all the times, and we have to understand the factors that urged him to leave: 1. He is a young talented player with high ambitions! he cannot stay in the shed of Messi who is considered a god for Barc. and will continue to be god for a long time! 2. he is a player with full self confidence and he knows he has many qualities, so he wanted to prove that he can pave his way to the glory alone! with a new start and with a "modest" team without any help of the big name of the team itself. He got to know that the way is so long and hard, but he learnt much of this experience.. the most important lesson he learnt is to be patient and wait for the good oppotunity to come and don't push it! stay calm, relax, concentrated and with high motivation and you will force the glory to worship you.... Still he has a great opportunity to show the whole world what he can do in the World Cup... we all waiting for his return because it's a great honor and pleasure to see his movements and performance on the yard..
ItumelengDaniel67
19
Y'all don't have to criticize him or bad-mouth him... that's what he chose an there's nothing wrong with that... everyone got options Barca players are mad at him just because he left the club that's why they don't wanna see him doing well at Paris that's unfair.. Let the boy shines ๐