Thiago Silva lifts the lid on Kylian Mbappe’s fallout with Neymar at PSG – as ‘jealous’ star’s friendship with Brazil legend soured after arrival of Lionel Messi

Thiago Silva has claimed the rift between Neymar and Kylian Mbappe during their time at Paris Saint-Germain was ‘disappointing’ – as he recalled how the pair were inseparable before Lionel Messi arrived at the club.

Silva captained PSG to an astonishing 24 trophies between 2012 and 2020, during which he welcomed numerous superstars to the club as they became the biggest and best in France.

Mbappe and Neymar famously arrived in Paris during the summer of 2017, a partnership that would see them flank striker Edinson Cavani and sweep up astonishing domestic and personal success.

Mbappe scored 132 goals in 171 appearances while Neymar would bag 87 of his own in 116 games. And then Messi arrived.

In a bid to secure the one trophy that had consistently eluded them – the Champions League – PSG capitalised on Barcelona letting Messi go and assembled one of the most fearsome frontlines in the history of the sport ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

But while they continued to win in France, European glory eluded them and Neymar revealed earlier this year that Mbappe’s behaviour ‘changed’ because he was ‘jealous’ of Messi.

Thiago Silva says the fallout between Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at PSG was ‘disappointing’

Mbappe scored 132 goals and Neymar bagged 87 of his own before Lionel Messi was signed

And now, Silva, who departed the club in the season before for to sign for Chelsea, has revealed how the pair’s relationship was blossoming prior to the Argentinian being signed.

‘They were connected to each other and were among those who had the most fun on a daily basis,’ Silva told L’Equipe. 

‘I didn’t understand why they had a falling out. I was no longer at Paris-SG. I don’t know which of the two caused this separation but it made me sad. They are two wonderful guys and it’s disappointing that it ended like this.’

Silva also recalled the ‘beautiful story’ which led to Mbappe signing for PSG after his side’s victory over AS Monaco – who the forward was playing for – in the French Super Cup. 

The Brazilian said: ‘At the end of the match, Mbappé wanted to talk to me. He said: “Even if Neymar signs, I want to come too and be part of this team. If you can talk to the president about it.” The two arrived that summer and their relationship was incredible.’

Silva’s comments come after Neymar himself addressed the relationship between himself and Mbappe, which was regularly reported as being strainef – a belief strengthened when the pair clashed over who would take a penalty in August 2022.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by Brazil World Cup winner Romario, Neymar opened up on life at PSG and the divides within their front three once Messi joined earlier this year.

‘No, he (Mbappe) is not (annoying),’ he said. ‘I have my things with him, we had a little fight, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived.

Neymar earlier this year claimed Mbappe became ‘jealous’ once Messi signed for the club

‘I used to call him golden boy. I always played with him, said he was going to be one of the best. I always helped, talked to him, he came to my place, we had dinner together.

‘We had some good years of partnership, but after Messi came he was a little jealous. He didn’t want to split me with anyone. And then there were some fights, a change in behavior.’

PSG were desperate to win the Champions League with Mbappe and Neymar, with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi later claiming it was an ‘obsession’, but the French giants repeatedly fell short.

They regularly crashed out in crunch knockout games, including at the last-16 stage by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich when the club’s attack consisted of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar.

During that time, the three stars were reportedly on a cumulative £3.25million-per-week, while several other players like Sergio Ramos, Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma were also on astronomical wages.

Reflecting on those European frustrations, Neymar hinted that there were almost too many ‘big egos’ inside the dressing room to get through the tough moments in those big games.

‘It is good to have egos,’ the Brazilian added. ‘But you have to know that you don’t play alone.

‘There needs to be another guy by your side. (Big) egos were almost everywhere, it can’t work. If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything.’