Neymar’s best years are BEHIND him, claims David Ginola… as Frenchman insists new £26m per season deal for the Brazilian will matter little if PSG cannot tie down Kylian Mbappe too
- Neymar ended speculation around his future by signing a new deal at PSG
- The Brazilian put pen to paper on a three-year extension through to 2025
- David Ginola was happy to see the club earn further loyalty from the Brazil star
- But he claimed his new deal would matter little if Kylian Mbappe does not renew
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has already played the best years of his career, according to David Ginola, despite the Brazilian signing a three-year extension at the club just last week.
The 29-year-old ended speculation of a return to former club Barcelona by putting pen to paper on an extension worth £26million (€30m) per season.
Neymar’s contract had been set to expire at the end of the 2021-22 season but he has now agreed a deal which will see him through until 2025.
PSG star Neymar (left) has already played the best years of his career, according to David Ginola (right)
The Brazilian, 29, signed a three-year extension last week taking him through until 2025
But while he was happy to see PSG gain further ‘loyalty’ from the Brazil star, former playmaker Ginola insists it will count for little if the club fail to secure Kylian Mbappe’s long-term future too, urging them to help the World Cup winner to continue unlocking his ‘enormous potential’.
‘The important thing to win trophies is stability in a group. To gain Neymar’s loyalty even more, I think that’s a very good thing,’ Ginola told France Info.
‘Winning matches with one player today like back then, you could do with [Michel] Platini and [Diego] Maradona, I think those days are over.
‘We cannot sign Neymar again without securing the signature of Kylian Mbappe. Neymar is 29 years old, his best years are behind him.
But Ginola believes his deal will matter little if fellow forward Kylian Mbappe leaves the club
‘Mbappe is more about youth, talent in its raw state, he is a boy who has enormous potential, but we are only at 60% of his capacities.
‘Except that today, all these players will have to realise that they can not win anything if they do not put themselves at the service of a group.’
Latest reports however suggest Ginola may not see his wish come true, with the 22-year-old reportedly stalling over a new deal at the Parc des Princes.
French outlet Telefoot claim long-term admirers Real Madrid are readying a big-money move for Mbappe, before adding PSG will target Liverpool star Mohamed Salah should the Frenchman leave this season’s Champions League semi-finalists.
Ginola believes the days when Diego Maradona (left) and Michel Platini (right) used to win games by themselves are over
Mbappe has had a greater impact on PSG’s season than his Brazilian team-mate, scoring 37 goals in 43 appearances, including 25 in Ligue 1 and another eight in the Champions League.
Neymar has still contributed a respectable 16 goals and 10 assists in 29 games in all competitions this term, but has missed 19 outings through injury.
His latest strike saw him open the scoring from the penalty spot at Rennes, but PSG were pegged back by their hosts to leave their title hopes on the verge of collapse.
Reports suggest PSG will target Liverpool star Mohamed Salah if Mbappe leaves the club
