Thiago Silva backs Neymar and hits back at the clichés

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·15 de dezembro de 2025

Thiago Silva backs Neymar and hits back at the clichés

Former captain of Paris Saint-Germain, Thiago Silva (41 years old) spoke in L’Équipe to defend Neymar, now at Santos FC. In response to persistent criticisms about the Brazilian's lifestyle and physical management, the defender provides a detailed testimony, far from clichés, and recalls the heavy context of injuries surrounding the end of the former Parisian star's career.

Thiago Silva "People judge him wrongly"

"Why haven't you managed to influence Neymar? But he has everything: the hyperbaric chamber, the ice bath, a chef, a physio, a fitness coach... People judge him wrongly. I assure you that he prepares properly, that he is determined to be at his best to compete in the World Cup. Don't forget that he is coming back from a serious left knee injury (rupture of the cruciate ligaments, in October 2023 after a match against Uruguay with the Seleção).

Thiago Silva "We feel so good that we push the machine, and it breaks"

After that, physical issues are inevitable. Look at Rodri! The problem is that Santos needs to save itself and needs Neymar, even on one leg. Moreover, Neymar is like me, he always wants to play. I told him: "You are no longer the Neymar of ten years ago. You need to preserve yourself." Before one of his latest physical issues (right thigh in September, then a meniscus injury in the left knee at the end of November), he felt in top form. But that's when we get injured. We feel so good that we push the machine, and it breaks. Contrary to what people think, Neymar does what is necessary."

The Neymar case has often been oversimplified, as if his career could be seen in black or white. Either a carefree genius or a supposedly negligent player. The reality is obviously more nuanced. When Thiago Silva defends him, it's not just out of friendship, even though their bond is strong and longstanding. It's mainly the perspective of a high-level player who knows the demands of the body, the mental wear, and the severity of serious injuries.

Vídeos OneFootball

Neymar has endured major traumas that have profoundly altered the end of his career. From there, each relapse fuels hasty judgments, as if fragility were a choice. Silva reminds us of a simple thing: one can do everything right and still see the machine fail. Neymar hasn't "wasted" his end of career; he has suffered it. And in this context, reducing his story to a lack of seriousness is an overly simplistic, almost comfortable, but deeply incomplete reading.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.