Neymar keen to rejoin Barcelona in transfer window? PSG superstar's father breaks silence
According to reports, PSG star forward Neymar is eyeing a return to La Liga giants FC Barcelona summer.
It seems like Neymar’s desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this summer is becoming an open secret. The Brazilian superstar has now been linked with a return to Barcelona. While Neymar appears to be keen on returning to Nou Camp, Barcelona officials, however, are not confident about bringing back the 31-year-old. According to ESPN, some sources have conveyed that there is an internal debate currently going on at Barcelona around Neymar’s signing.
The report claims that Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez is one of those who is against the move to re-sign the PSG forward. It has been learnt that the Spaniard feels Neymar will not fit into the current Barcelona team. “Ah… Surprise… That’s a surprise. Look I appreciate Neymar as a person, as a player, as a friend, he’s a great player, but he’s not in our plans no,” Xavi had said back in June.
Neymar’s father, however, refuted rumours of his son’s intention of leaving PSG this summer. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, who closely follows the football transfer market, tweeted, “Neymar’s father asked about request to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer: ‘I can not confirm a news that did not happen’, told PL Brasil.”
Despite Xavi’s lack of interest, Barcelona team management has not yet ruled out the chances of Neymar’s much-talked-about return this summer. Though, Barca officials feel that signing Neymar once again can prove to be difficult financially. With just six days to go for their new season’s kick-off, Barcelona have not been able to register their new signings or players who recently renewed their contracts with the Spanish side. Barcelona will be up against Getafe this Sunday and the Catalan giants have 13 players available for the season-opener.
Sources close to PSG told ESPN that no talks have yet been held over Neymar’s potential summer transfer to Spain. The French giants are understood to be willing to let go their forward ahead of the next season. PSG will reportedly be asking for a permanent deal for Neymar but they can be open to negotiating an initial loan move. Neymar is under contract at PSG until 2025.
PSG secured a world record transfer to rope in Neymar from Barcelona in 2017 for 222 million euros (£200m at the time). Neymar left Barcelona having scored more than 100 goals in four seasons. He won the Ligue 1 title five times in France but failed to claim the much-coveted Champions League trophy for PSG. Neymar has till now scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for PSG.
The current summer transfer window has been quite topsy-turvy for the Paris giants. They have already had to deal with Lionel Messi’s departure. Moreover, PSG have not been able to extend contract with another star figure Kylian Mbappe. Many sources believe that Real Madrid have already reached an agreement with the Frenchman. The Spanish club will officially sign Mbappe when his contract expires.
