Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
Neymar has said “there is nothing worse than injury” and revealed a “special” bond with basketball legend Kobe Bryant whose death he said “affected me a lot”.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Neymar, 28, made the comments in an interview with the Arab edition of Vogue fashion magazine ‘Vogue Arabia’.
When speaking about his time at PSG and overcoming injury he said: “There is nothing worse for a professional athlete than an injury.
“I really suffered with injuries these last two seasons and I had many moments of questioning myself” referring to his three major injuries since signing for PSG in 2017 for a world-record 222 million EUR (195.57 million GBP).
The Brazilian’s injury woes at PSG began with a metatarsal fracture in February 2018 which kept off the pitch for three months. The former Barcelona forward then suffered a foot injury in January 2019 which saw him sidelined for over two months.
Most recently, the 28-year-old suffered a groin injury in October, however, he assures that he is fully recovered now.
The world’s most expensive footballer went on to say: “Half of the success of an athlete is the mind. If the mind is good, the game flows more naturally.”
Neymar revealed he had a close connection with Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and speaking of the NBA star’s tragic death he said: “His death affected me a lot, because our lives had much in common
“I met Kobe personally and the times he came to Paris… When you meet the person behind the athlete, it creates a different relationship and with Kobe, it was very special. Sports and society lost a great guy.”
Bryant, 41, lost his life along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others in a helicopter accident on 26th January in Calabasas, California.
Picture Credit: Golders 
Picture Credit: Golders
Neymar paid homage to Bryant after scoring his second goal of the match in PSG’s 2-0 victory over Lille in a Ligue 1 match on the same day of Bryant’s death.
He was seen walking towards a camera and making the number ‘24’ with his hands referring to the number Bryant wore in the second half of his career.
Neymar is spending his quarantine at a luxury mansion with friends and family near the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro after all European competitions were suspended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
According to the most recent figures by the Johns Hopkins University, France has reported 110,070 cases of the virus leading to 10,328 deaths making it one of the most-affected countries in the world.
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