Neymar has asked Paris Saint-Germain for permission to leave, according to reports.
The 11-time French Ligue 1 champions continue to make the headlines in the transfer news and rumours scene ahead of the 2023/24 European football season. The club has been active in the transfer market, bringing in talented players like Marco Asensio, Kang-In Lee, and most recently, Gonçalo Ramos who was a target of many clubs across Europe.
However, their biggest headache is Kylian Mbappe, who is on the verge of a messy exit after six seasons at the club. While they try to put out the fire started by the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner, Brazilian forward, Neymar, has come into the fray to pour fuel into the fire.
It is no secret that the former Barcelona man has been up for a transfer for some time but there has been no means for both parties to find an amicable solution. His decision to hand in a transfer request this summer, however, has now thrown them into a panic as they are now tasked with the burden of finding a solution.
French outfit L’Equipe reports that Neymar let his management know that he is no longer interested in playing for PSG and they have transmitted it to the club’s hierarchy.
Neymar wants to return to Barcelona. The player left for a world record €222 million deal in 2017 and has since found life in the French capital tough to deal with. Barcelona, meanwhile, have no plans to bring back Neymar, not even on loan.
“I’m surprised [by the rumours],” Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona manager, said when asked about the club’s links to Neymar. “He’s not in our sports planning. I really like him as a person and a friend, but we have different priorities.”
PSG, look to have identified the Brazilian’s replacement in Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman was the direct replacement of Neymar at Barcelona but injuries and poor form have hindered his success at the Spotify Camp Nou. PSG, however, are looking to replace Neymar with Dembele in a move similar to Barcelona’s in 2017.
Neymar has a deal with the Parisiens that runs until 2027 and this is the problem that PSG have to deal with. Their valuation of the 31-year-old, while logical because of the impact of the player, is what has turned a number of suitors off. That and the Brazilian’s astronomically high wages.
It remains to be seen what the outcome of the efforts by Neymar to leave France are. In the meantime, he is participating in PSG’s pre-season preparations and is in Luis Enrique’s plans for the season.
