(From L) Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe, Argentine forward Lionel Messi and forward Neymar walk off the winners stand during the 2022-2023 Ligue 1 championship trophy ceremony following the L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Clermont Foot 63 . (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

SAO PAULO — Striker Neymar said his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé became “a little jealous” after superstar Lionel Messi joined the French club in August 2021 in a free transfer.

Speaking in a podcast hosted by World Cup winner Romário released Thursday, the 32-year-old Brazilian who plays for Saudi club Al-Hilal added that big egos affected the performances of PSG in big matches.

Neymar made his comments after Romário asked whether Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid this season, “is annoying.”

READ: After Ligue 1 title win, Mbappe and PSG have sights set on treble

“No, he is not. I have my things with him, we had a little fight, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived. 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,” Neymar said.

“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,” the Brazilian player added.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents the employees, is negotiating a new contract with the Oakland-based health giant. It said the strikers demand Kaiser hire more people to ease the burden put on the current staff.

Mbappé joined PSG from Monaco in 2017, the same year Neymar moved from Barcelona to the French club in one of the biggest transfers in soccer history.

READ: Lionel Messi snatches dramatic win for PSG after Neymar stretchered off

Both were signed as the club sought its maiden Champions League title, which it is yet to win. Neymar said the team often struggled due to big egos, but didn’t name anyone.

“It is good to have egos, 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,” Neymar said. “If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything.”

Neymar didn’t rule out returning to Brazil after his contract in Saudi Arabia expires in the middle of the year.

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Neither Mbappé nor Messi have reacted to Neymar’s comments.megapanalo