Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Rafinha has revealed why the Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe era at the club was doomed from the start.
The trio played together from 2021 to 2023, winning Ligue 1 twice but failing to deliver the Champions League trophy the club craved.
Speaking on the Charla Podcast, Rafinha said: “During pre-season, in the first training session where everyone was present, I said, ‘This can’t possibly work.’”
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He explained the challenges of managing so many stars, from goalkeepers Keylor Navas and Gianluigi Donnarumma to defenders Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos, and attackers including Ángel Di María, Neymar, Mbappe and Messi.
“For a coach, it’s impossible,” he added. “They were the best team in the world in terms of players, names, but at the same time, difficult to manage. I wasn’t playing, so I was watching.”
[L’Equipe reports] that Messi was unhappy during his two seasons in Paris, feeling overshadowed by Mbappe and struggling with life off the pitch. A source close to the outlet claimed: “He didn’t have one good moment in Paris. He couldn’t go out… He even felt that the club protected the Frenchman.”
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After Messi and Neymar left in 2023, Mbappe stayed one more year before joining Real Madrid. PSG went on to win the treble the following season under Luis Enrique, with Ousmane Dembele lifting his first Ballon d’Or.