Sign up to get Today’s Best Cartoons in your inbox
Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of
The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Neymar’s next move: return to Barcelona or a €500m Real Madrid mega-deal?
Brazilian forward does not want to be at Paris Saint-Germain
The maverick forward has only been with Paris Saint-Germain for two seasons after his world-record £198m move from Barcelona, but according to reports he wants to leave the French champions.
Spanish newspaper Sport says that the 27-year-old has told PSG chief Nasser Al Khelaifi that he is not going to return to the French capital and is looking for a way out.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Sources told Sport that Neymar was “never happy in Paris” and the publication claims that the player’s “idyll in the city of love” lasted just a few weeks.
The Daily Mirror, citing the reports in Spain, say that Neymar is ready to sever ties with PSG in a bid to force through a transfer to Barcelona.
Back to Barca?
A return to Barcelona has been strongly suggested, but there could be a number of factors stopping the Catalan club from re-signing their former star.
Sign up to get Today’s Best Cartoons in your inbox
Funniest, thought-provoking editorial cartoons, delivered each weekday
The Daily Mail reports that Barcelona can’t afford the £198m fee they sold him for, or the £31m net wage he earns at PSG.
While Neymar is “desperate” to link up again with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Camp Nou, Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde has prioritised the signing of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid this summer.
However, Sport says that Barca could strike a deal with PSG by offering €100m (£89.1m) plus Philippe Coutinho.
PSG initially asked for €300m (£267.6m) for Neymar but it’s claimed that the two clubs have started discussions.
Real to make giant offer?
If a return to Barcelona is not on the cards for Neymar could he sign for the Catalans’ biggest rivals Real Madrid?
Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo reports that if Real want to sign the PSG star it could take a deal worth €500m (£446m) to get it over the line.
Mundo Deportivo says that Real have presented PSG with a €130m (£115.9) offer for Neymar and are also willing to include Gareth Bale or James Rodriguez as part of the deal.
According to TransferMarkt.com Welsh forward Bale is worth €60m (£53.5m) while Colombian playmaker James is valued at €50m (£44.6m).
Factoring in the transfer bid, the value of players in part-exchange and the Brazilian’s massive wages over a long contract, Mundo Deportivo says that the overall cost of Neymar’s arrival at the Bernabeu would reach “stratospheric limits” of around €500m.
While Bale and James have been suggested as possible swaps, Marca says that it’s Real defensive midfielder Casemiro who PSG are keen on.
The French champions are demanding that Brazilian star Casemiro be included in any deal for Neymar.
Rivaldo: choose Barca over Real
Brazil legend Rivaldo has had his say on where he thinks his compatriot should go.
Goal.com reports that Rivaldo, like Neymar, is an ex-Barcelona forward and he wants to see the 27-year-old choose the Camp Nou over the Bernabeu.
“I would love for Neymar to return,” Rivaldo said. “It would be good for Barca and for Neymar. It was a mistake that he left. He doesn’t say that, nor does his father, but it was.
“He’s 27 and has a lot of years left in him yet. He could win another treble, it would be incredible.
“I don’t know what is going to happen but I’d prefer he was in Barcelona rather than in Madrid. If he goes to Madrid, that isn’t good for Barca. If he goes there, they’ll be really strong.”
