I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this report out of Spain but if you need a good laugh, continue on.
The start of the week brought news from Mundo Deportivo that Neymar rejected an offer from PSG of €100 million as a bonus for renewing his contract (his current deal expires June 2022). According to MD, this apparently means he is desperate for a transfer back to FC Barcelona.
🗞️ Aquí os dejamos nuestra portada de hoyhttps://t.co/pNnOGV34G1 pic.twitter.com/7cDod0RvK0
— Mundo Deportivo (🏠 #yomequedoencasa) (@mundodeportivo) May 3, 2020
The publication, which is headquartered in Barcelona, also reports that Neymar is “willing to collect half of what he charges with PSG in order to play for Barca.”
It’s widely known that Barcelona’s financial situation, which has only been made worse by the coronavirus, is not one that would allow them to sign an expensive player like Neymar.
La Liga president, Javier Tebas, confirmed as much recently when discussing the potential of Barcelona signing Neymar and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez (via Goal).
“The club at present doesn’t have the capacity to make these signings, at present it’s completely impossible.”
There’s still the possibility that Neymar could invoke FIFA’s Article 17 to force a move back to Barcelona. That would be extremely risky and the fee determined by the governing body of football could still exceed the Catalan club’s means.
Last month, Sport reported that PSG planned to offer Neymar a contract extension that would keep him in the French capital until 2025 and pay him €38 million per year.
Neymar strikes me as someone who likes being well-compensated for his services. In Paris, he is teammates with Kylian Mbappé and paid very well. That seems like the better option when compared to playing with Lionel Messi (who turns 33 this summer) for half the salary.
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