Heartbroken with a loss to Belgium in the world cup quarter final, Brazil forward Neymar said he “didn’t want to see a ball” or watch any of the remaining World Cup matches after the heartbreaking loss.
“I was in mourning, I was really sad, but sadness passes,” Neymar told AFP in an interview.
“I have my son, my family, my friends and they don’t want to see me moping around,” he said reflecting the loss to Belgium 2-1
The star forward also rejected any speculation of a move to Real Madrid.
“The guys who come up with these stories seem to know more about my life than I do. I won’t respond to this type of question because nothing happened,” he scoffed.
Neymar joined PSG for a world record £200m from Barcelona last summer and scored 28 goals in all competitions as the French side completed a triple domestic victory.
Neymar received immense criticism after being alleged for play-acting in the world cup. However, he said referees should have protected him.
“People were faster to criticise the one being fouled than the one doing the fouling,” Neymar told AFP.
“I went to the World Cup to play, to beat the opposition, not to get kicked. The criticism of me was exaggerated, but I’m a big boy, I’m used to dealing with this kind of thing.
“I can’t be the referee and play at the same time, but there are times I wish I could.”
He further said the burden of performing on the expectations line for club or the country doesn’t bother him.
“No, all the great players feel pressure,” he said.
“It’s true that when it comes to me, there are double standards. I have been aware of this responsibility, not only for Brazil, but also in club fotball, since I was 17, 18 years old.
“I have prepared myself to handle this pressure and I know that when the results are not what they should be then that pressure increases.”
