After Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League victory over Manchester United, Neymar expressed his wish for the future is to once again play alongside his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.
This saw reports stating the Argentina international, whose contract at the Camp Nou expires in the summer, could join PSG.
Neymar’s current deal in Paris lasts until 2022 and earlier reports suggested he is set to renew his contract.
Last Saturday, Catalan newspaper Ara reported the Brazilian is ‘paralysing his renewal with PSG’ and is considering returning to his former club, after finding out Messi is likely to sign a new deal with Ronald Koeman’s side.
A day later, Téléfoot explained an extension of Neymar’s contract at PSG is imminent, after foundations were laid a few weeks ago.
The newspaper states: ‘Sources from the culé sports area reacted like this to the news that he is still offered.’
It’s claimed the La Liga side’s sporting leaders reacted like this: “Neymar now? He is [available for] free in a year.”
Mundo add the Spanish club are ‘committed’ to extending Messi’s contract and if possible, to making a big signing. However, it’s unlikely to be the 29-year-old.
Barca and their new board headed by president Joan Laporta are very clear the possibility of Neymar returning to the club can only be made real with a free transfer in 2022.
Two years ago, the Blaugrana tried to bring the player back, but a deal never materialised because they couldn’t meet PSG’s demands.
Barcelona, according to Mundo, will only take Neymar back if he’s made available on a ‘zero cost’ deal, and that will be possible next year.
Josep Maria Bartomeu failed to bring Neymar back to the club in 2019 and if Laporta is successful in acquiring the PSG player’s services on a free transfer in 2022, it will be a massive win for him.
