Neymar has shared WhatsApp conversations with a number of his Brazil international teammates “without their permission” after the team’s World Cup exit.
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The Paris Saint-Germain star has conceded he is thinking about quitting international football after his nation’s exit from the World Cup at the hands of Croatia in Friday’s quarter final clash.
Neymar had scored for Brazil in extra-time of the tense last eight game and had looked set to seal their place in the semi final of the competition.
But, Croatia hit back as Bruno Petkovic levelled the score with four minutes left of extra time before they went on to win 4-2 in the penalty shootout to book a last four clash against Argentina.
Now, Neymar has shared several of his WhatsApp discussions with his teammates on his social media streams. “I decided to expose (without their permission) the messages to see how much we wanted to win and how united we were,” Neymar wrote on his Instagram stories.
“These were some of the many messages I exchanged with the group. We are feeling very sad, but we have to be stronger to keep going and I am I’m sure that, with the support of all the fans, we’ll come back stronger. I’m Brazilian with a lot of pride, with a lot of love!”
In a screenshot of his conversation with Marquinhos, whose missed penalty sealed Brazil’s fate, Neymar wrote: “A penalty will not change what I think of you.” To which Marquinhos replied: “I really wanted everything to go well. But you have to be strong, give it time and see what football has in store for us.”
In his talk with Thiago Silva, the PSG forward tells the Brazil skipper that “I really wanted to give you this Cup.” The Chelsea star’s response was blunt and sincere: “Brother, it’s more f***** up than I imagined, really. I can’t stand it. I can’t believe we lost. I can’t believe it. Every time I remember it makes me want to cry.”
Neymar also tried to lift the spirits of Rodrygo, who also missed for Brazil in the penalty shootout and the PSG forward told him when apologising for his mistake: “I’m sorry… no. Are you crazy? Only those who hit the penalties miss them and you are an ace.”
Neymar was not one of the four Brazil penalty takers during the penalty shootout defeat against Croatia and he was due to take the fifth penalty in the shootout, but the misses of Rodrygo and Marquinhos meant that it ended even before Neymar’s turn.
