Neymar’s return to Barcelona is almost a done deal. The Brazilian star, who just two years ago shifted base to France for a record £200 million deal to Paris Saint-Germain, had publicly declared his wish to re-join the Blaugrana after informing the French champions that he wants to leave. It seems that his wish is finally set to be fulfilled. Reports on Tuesday claimed that officials from the La Liga club have travelled to Paris to discuss the potential return for the 27-year-old to Camp Nou. PSG Fans Display Banners Asking Neymar to 'Get Out of the Club' During PSG vs Nimes Game.
According to a report in Sky Sports, club Barcelona’s officials are conducting a meeting with PSG hierarchy to discuss and negotiate a possible deal for the mercurial Brazilian. Barcelona, as per reports, are ready to send Phillippe Coutinho the other way as part of the transfer that could bring Neymar back to the Catalan club. Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr Take on Each Other in the Boxing Ring (Watch Video).
The report from Sky Sports also claims that Leo Messi personally called Neymar and urged him to reject Real Madrid and return to Barcelona. Both the Argentine and Brazilian superstars spent four trophy-laden years in the Catalan club, winning the 2015 Champions League along with two La Liga titles. Messi and Neymar had also struck a sweet chord among themselves during their time together at the Blaugrana club and Messi is still believed to have the same sort of fondness for his former teammate.
If those reports stand true then Real are certainly out of the race keeping Barcelona and PSG into reaching an agreement for the Brazilian star. A move to the Catalan club was always Neymar's first option and he only began negotiations with Real after his former club refused to pay the high fee PSG demanded for his transfer.
Meanwhile, Barca’s domestic rivals Real Madrid are also attempting to seal a deal with PSG for the transfer of Neymar. Real president Florentino Perez has been a long admirer of the Brazilian wide-man and wants him as his first future galactico signing especially after missing out in 2013 when Neymar joined his ‘dream club’ Barcelona from Brazilian side Santos. It has also emerged that many players from the La Liga giants have been frequently contacting Neymar to persuade and urge him to arrive at the Bernabeu.
Under Zinedine Zidane, Real has already made a number of signing this summer transfer window with Eden Hazard being the biggest name among the new incomings. But sources in the club feels that the team is still shy of one proven attacker to make any major inroads in Europe this season.
Real also missed out on signing Paul Pogba after failing to meet Manchester United's £180m demands for the World-cup winning Frenchman. Pogba was among Zidane's prime target list in his second stint as a head coach at Bernabeu and both the club and the midfielder had agreed on personal terms but Real couldn't match United's asking price before the English Premier League window shut down on August 8, 2019.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 13, 2019 09:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).