Neymar reveals he cannot bear watching football on television

Neymar says he would rather play football than watch it and plans to take an entire year away from any activity after retiring.

The Santos forward, who began his professional career at the age of 17 and is now 34, has started considering life after football while enjoying the good level currently being shown by his club.

Speaking to the Varanda Gourmet channel in an interview published by Brazilian network Ge Globo, Neymar said he wanted a long period of rest once he ended his playing days.

“Obviously, when I retire, I will spend an entire year doing absolutely nothing,” he said.

“I will live that way: if I feel like playing football today, I will play. But if I do not feel like doing anything at all today, I will not do anything.”

Neymar also explained that his enthusiasm for playing football does not extend to watching matches on television.

“No, I do not like it,” he said. “I like basketball, but I only watch it from time to time. I get angry when I watch football.”

The Brazilian said people were often surprised when he described his attitude towards watching the sport.

“When I talk about this in interviews or with my friends, nobody believed me,” Neymar added. “I love football, but I love playing it. Sitting on the sofa and turning on the television to watch a match is something I cannot do.”

He recalled becoming frustrated when teammates or friends staying with him in Paris and Barcelona regularly watched football at the weekend.

“When the boys were staying with me in Paris and Barcelona, the television showed nothing but football matches on Saturdays and Sundays,” Neymar said.

“I used to get very angry, and I would not even stay in the living room.”

Despite his dislike of watching televised football, Neymar has made clear that playing the game remains central to his life. He has not said when he will retire, but his comments suggest he expects to step away from the sport completely for a period once his career comes to an end.