Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar Jr. earns a lot of money both from the club and endorsements, but he sure does know how to spend it.
Last month, Neymar left his home in Paris due to the French government’s lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic and traveled to Brazil with close friends via a private jet.
Since returning to his home country, Neymar and those who traveled with him have all been in self-isolation to ensure that they don’t have the coronavirus and risk spreading it.
Neymar shared a few images of his luxurious quarantine on Instagram and of course, it drew immediate criticism from those who thought he was not adhering to the social-distancing rules. The complaints were loud enough that Neymar’s communications manager was forced to release a statement.
When you see the photos of Neymar, it’s easy to see why some thought he wasn’t taking the global health crisis seriously. However, once you learn that those are the same friends that flew with him from Paris and that the photos were taken at his €8 million Rio de Janeiro compound, it all seems becomes much less controversial.
The property, according to a report from The Sun, is located 60 miles down the coast from Rio and is the same place where the Brazil international stayed in 2018 before the FIFA World Cup where he rehabbed his injured foot.
The villa where Neymar has chosen to isolate himself from the world is located in the resort of Mangaratiba and behind the gated walls of an estate called Portobello. According to the report from The Sun, Mangaratiba is where Sylvester Stallone shot the 2010 movie “The Expendables,” which has a 42 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
As you would imagine, there are plenty of activities to enjoy at a property that costs €8 million. At Neymar’s disposal are a helipad and a jetty where Neymar can dock his yacht. I mean, can you really self-isolate without your yacht being nearby?
The amenities continue inside the compound as you would imagine. Neymar and his guests can work out at the gym, work on their backhand on the tennis court, sweat it out inside a sauna, and relax in the jacuzzi. Essentially, Neymar owns the best resort you’ve ever stayed at but he has it all to himself and his friends.
It’s not all fun and games though for the 28-year-old. We still don’t know when Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League will resume but that’s no excuse to lay around not work out.
Via his Instagram, Neymar shared photos of him playing various sports and working out to stay in shape so that he’s ready to go once football resumes again.
Known as the world’s most expensive player following his €222 million transfer from FC Barcelona to PSG in 2017, Neymar has battled injury the past few years but this season, the Brazilian has earned his title with outstanding performances on the pitch and a professional attitude off of it.
Should Neymar want to celebrate while in isolation, he could head down to the property’s underground cellar for a bottle of wine and pair it with a dish from his luxury kitchen. There’s also no shortage of outdoor space to sit down for a nice meal in the shade.
According to Neymar’s communications manager, “The house where the athlete is doing his quarantine is totally isolated and provides peace and serenity so he can continue training and looking after his loved ones at this time of world pain and confinement.
The statement continues by clarifying who is allowed to visit and who denied access.
“There are no visits or business meetings at the house, above all because the residential estate it’s on only permits access to residents.”
“The exception in terms of visitors has been his son, Davi Lucca, who came to the house to stay with his dad.”
Neymar wasn’t the only Paris Saint-Germain player to come under criticism for fleeing the country at the outbreak of the virus. Thiago Silva and his family also left for Brazil but Isabelle Silva claimed that she couldn’t stockpile groceries and they have a pool in Brazil.
Mauro Icardi and his wife and agent, Wanda Icardi, were also criticized by her ex-husband whom she has three children with. They left Paris in early March to stay at their villa on Lake Como, which is located in one of the hardest-hit regions of Italy.
This mini-holiday for Neymar could work to PSG’s benefit. Being in Brazil and recharging his batteries could eventually propel the club to its first UEFA Champions League title in club history.
Against Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16 of the Champions League, Neymar scored two goals over both legs as the club eventually won 3-2 on aggregate to reach its first quarter-finals since 2016.
If the tournament is able to resume, and it certainly seems like UEFA is doing everything possible to make sure it does, Neymar should be fresh, healthy, and in a good mindset, which will only benefit the club.
Neymar is under contract at PSG until 2022 but there are always rumors about a potential return to Barcelona. However, a €150 million price tag and the Catalan Club’s financial issues likely mean that Neymar will remain in Paris for another year at least.
With friend and teammate Kylian Mbappé alongside him leading PSG’s attack, remaining in Ligue 1 has become an attractive option for Neymar who last summer tried everything he could to force his way out.
It’s expected that the coronavirus will have a major impact on the upcoming transfer window and very few teams will be willing to splash the cash for big-name players so it’s likely PSG will be able to retain both of their superstars.
Go on an MTV Cribs-style tour of the resort in the video below and be sure to listen to our recent PSG Talking podcast where I speak with fellow PSG Talk contributor Pola Henderson who is quarantined in France. She shares what life is like in the French capital now, when we think the season will resume, and what to watch on Netflix.
Want more PSG? Visit the PSG Talk Podcast Network page and subscribe to PSG Talking, The 1970, and 24th & Parc.