“My family always helped me. I had people around me who always pushed me to be the best: my dad, my mum. My dad used to play and coach as well. But I wasn’t born with shiny things.”

When I was smaller, I always looked up to Zidane, Messi, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo.

Greatness, it’s all in the details.

I do not live for people, for what they think, for them to say that I’m nice, good, the best, perfect. Everyone has their opinion. And I respect that.

Playing against an Italian team is harder than all the other leagues. The Italians won’t score lots of goals, but they won’t concede many, either.

I try to not take myself too seriously and just have fun when I’m not playing.

My deepest respect to the clubs who considered having me.

It doesn’t matter if it’s rain or sweat, we got work to do!

I wanted to show the world, to show United that I was ready to play and I was motivated to play. This comeback just showed that I left United, but the power of my heart was still here, to be honest.

I’m someone who says what he thinks.

When you lose someone you love, you don’t think the same way. And that’s why I say I enjoy life: because it goes very fast.

It’s always good to play with big players, you know.

I only think about the pitch. I want to do great. I want to be one of the best. I want to win titles. I want to achieve things.

Sport might not be the answer. But it is a symbol of optimism and hope.

Because I’m fairly big, I like to use my body. So I’ll control the ball, even when there’s a player on me, and then I’ll pass.

When you say the word ‘Neymar’ around the world, everyone knows who he is and what he does.

I really loved football from a young age. And my only thought, my only objective in life, was to be a professional footballer.

Because every day of your life was written on God’s calendar before you were born, everything that happens to you has spiritual significance.

Islam, at the moment, is the motherlode of bad ideas.

It’s pointless to cry. One is born and dies alone.

This is my soul skin. Born from the dust, blooming from within.

I was born to a dad who was born in the South Bronx while the Bronx was burning, while landlords were committing arson to their own buildings.

I know what it’s like to access the privilege of a ZIP Code but also be born in one that could have destined me to something else.

I think leaving [death] can be as joyous as – probably more joyous than – being born, because being born is very physically uncomfortable for the baby.

A love thought: I love you so much that I could wish I had been born your brother, or had brought you into the world myself.