According to Brazilian news outlet Globoesporte Globo , PSG superstar Neymar is set to complete a sensation summer return to Barcelona. The 27-year-old has spent two years in the French capital after a record-breaking £200million move from the Catalan giants.
Neymar’s move to PSG has not really worked out
The forward has picked up back-to-back Ligue One titles. However, PSG have failed to win the Champions League with the Brazilian international in their side. Signing the forward was supposedly part of the club’s hierarchies plan to win their holy grail of Europe’s biggest club competition. It has not quite worked out that way though.
His time in the French capital has saw the forward involved in a number of field issues. However, the most serious incident that the forward has been involved in is the alleged rape of a Brazilian woman, which allegedly took place in his homeland. The former Barcelona star has denied the claims of Najila Trindade.
Meanwhile, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has also said that he wants the ‘celebrity behaviour’ of the clubs players to stop. He did not name Neymar, but it was obvious of whom he was talking about.
He thrived in Barcelona, but was in Messi’s shadow
Neymar spent four seasons at Barcelona, becoming part of what was then known as the ‘MSN’ alongside Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi and Uruguayan international Luis Suarez.
The trio were the most potent strike-force in European football and fired the Catalan giants to the Champions League final in 2015. The Brazilian played a key role in the triumph.
It all seemed rosy for Neymar at one of the world’s biggest clubs. However, reportedly he wanted to move elsewhere to escape the shadow of the mighty Messi. The forward moved to PSG so he could step out of the Messi’s shadow. The idea was to take his game to the next level.
Although he has won two titles, he has not achieved what he wanted, as he is now competing with French starlet Kylian Mbappe to be the top dog in the French capital. A move back to Catalonia would once again see him in Messi’s shadow.
Is he returning this summer?
It looks very possible that Neymar could leave PSG this summer. The club’s hierarchy seemed to have had enough of his behaviour and it looks like they would be willing to sell. Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid are supposedly monitoring the forward’s situation.
However, Los Blancos have already spent big this summer and could fall foul of the Financial Fair Play rules. Barcelona are the favourites to sign Neymar, but they also have to considering balancing their books.
Reportedly, they are not prepared to pay back most of the fee they received for the forward in 2017. However, a fee of around £90million plus players as makeweights has been mooted. The players likely to be involved in any deal of that nature are Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti.
Barcelona are attempting to offload the trio to bring in funds and also bring in some revenue to strengthen their squad. All three enjoyed underwhelming campaigns last season at the Nou Camp, so it would not be a major surprise if any of the three moved on this summer.
With Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann supposedly their first-choice striking target this summer, Barcelona may now have a dilemma on their hands. It is not certain where Neymar will be plying his trade next season. However, it is difficult to rule out a return to Barcelona at this point.
Will Neymar return to Barcelona this summer?
