As part of his new role as Deputy for Rio de Janeiro, in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Romario has discussed the current state of world football and Neymar’s switch to Paris Saint-Germain.
Many have questioned the winger’s ambition in moving to the French capital and Romario fears the Ballon d’Or is unattainable in Ligue 1.
“Barcelona have lost out with the exit of Neymar”, emphasised the former World Cup winner to El Pais.
“From what I have read and heard, Neymar is happy with PSG, and I hope that this is the case. There is nothing more better for a player than to feel happy in his working environment.
“Neymar has already reached a level where he could win [the Ballon d’Or], with Barcelona, but now after the transfer, I think he will find it more difficult.”
Romario, who spent the 1993/94 and 1994/95 season at the Camp Nou, also spoke about his departure from Spain under the tenure of Johan Cruyff, due to a desire to spend more time with his family in Brazil.
“I was always happy in Barcelona,” he maintained. “But after the 1994 World Cup, because of the way many people welcomed me back home with a title for the first time in 24 years, I was sure I would be happier back in Rio de Janeiro.
“I definitely did not return to Brazil to earn more money, I went back and earned less, the most important thing was to be happy, I wanted to be close with my children and my parents, that was more important than money.”
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s dominance in the Ballon D’Or would be rivalled by Romario, he claims, were he playing in the current era.
“I would have more shots than them and I would be in the right positions more,” he noted.
Corruption in Brazilian Football
The subject of corruption within the Brazilian FA (CBF) is one that strikes real importance with Romario, so much so that he has written a book on the subject, titled ‘One eye on the ball, one eye on the managers’.
In the book, Romario states the CBF organised friendly matches, with the sole purpose of making money.
“It has been proven that the current president, and his two predecessors, at the CBF are real thieves. They are people who have stolen, embezzled, and acted illicitly,” stated Romario.
Romario also commented on the subject of corruption within Spanish football in the book.
“The corrupt individuals that tarnish the name of Barcelona, like Sandro Rosell or the president of Spanish FA, have to go to jail.”
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