Neymar, 31, has been linked with a return to Barcelona, as well as Chelsea and the Saudi Arabian league.
“Neymar has asked PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to leave the club this summer,” France’s L’Equipe reported on Aug. 8 (KST).
Neymar’s desire to leave PSG is due to his disappointment with the fans. Last season, Neymar was limited to 20 league appearances due to injury. Despite his limited appearances, he scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists in the league, finishing fifth in the Ligue 1 attacking points. He was also second in assists behind Lionel Messi (16). It was a decent performance, but one that drew criticism from fans as PSG crashed out of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the second year in a row. Arrows were also pointed at Neymar, who missed a lot of games due to injury.
“Fans went to Neymar’s home in May to protest,” says Requiem. Neymar remembers the shock,” explains the source, “and he was also angry at the club’s lack of concern for him, who was threatened by the fans.”
Neymar’s diminished position on the team is also a factor in his decision to leave PSG. “New coach Luis Enrique doesn’t see Neymar as a key player in the team,” said Sky Sports in the UK. PSG are keen to sell Neymar in order to build a younger team.” PSG parted ways with aging stars like Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos at the end of last season and brought in a number of new faces this summer, including Lee Kang-In, Serge N’Dour, and Manuel Ugarte. Rather than focusing on name recognition, the team has also added competitive players such as Luca Hernandez, Marco Asensio, and Milan Skriniar. 안전놀이터
According to L’Equipe, Barcelona is where Neymar wants to go. However, Barcelona is not in a financial position to pay Neymar’s high price tag and salary.
PSG paid a whopping €220 million ($317.7 million) transfer fee for Neymar in 2017. Six years later, it still stands as the most expensive transfer in soccer history. This is why it’s hard to sell Neymar on the cheap. PSG reportedly wants at least €80 million ($115.5 billion) for Neymar. Neymar currently earns €56 million a year at PSG. Even if Neymar were to reduce his salary at Barcelona, it would still be out of reach for the financially struggling club.
Neymar has also been linked to Chelsea in the English Premier League (EPL) after a period of silence. “Chelsea are set to hold talks with Neymar about a move,” reports the Daily Mail. According to the publication, Chelsea owner Todd Boly sees Neymar as part of a rebuilding program.
“Chelsea have been keen to bring Neymar to the club for some time,” said the Daily Mail, adding that “Chelsea’s financial strength could provide a way out for Neymar, who is keen to leave PSG”. “PSG are also expected to accept a £70 million bid for the player if one comes in.”