Latest Neymar-PSG dust-up moves player closer to Barcelona transfer
Barcelona handed a lifeline in pursuit of Neymar as PSG sporting director criticizes his summer antics.
Neymar seems to be getting what he wants by making PSG’s life miserable and all but forcing the club to sell him, possibly to Barcelona. But PSG are standing firm against him as Leonardo, the sporting director, ripped into the player for his unprofessional attitude in hopes of forcing a move.
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According to Diario Sport, Leonardo had a “major bust-up” with the player during training in front of his teammates for the way he has behaved this off-season. The Catalan outlet also reports that this took place in the dressing in the presence of the rest of the team in order to make an example of Neymar.
Sport’s Joaquim Piera writes,
"“Leonardo wants it to be known that from now on, everyone will be treated equally and there will be no special treatment or conditions for the star players.”"
Piera also revealed that the Brazilian would be hit with the highest possible fine for arriving late.
Leonardo and PSG are putting their foot down and will no longer allow Neymar to act the way he does simply because of his status. At the same time, to outsiders, all this does is further speculate rumors that a move away from the French giants is all but an inevitability.
That is where Barcelona once again comes in.
Neymar has made it no secret that he wants to return to Barcelona and considers it a mistake to have left in the first place. But Barcelona are not in the best position to reacquire the player following the Antoine Griezmann purchase. Combined with previous signings, Barcelona do not have the money for another expensive transfer.
However, ESPN report that Neymar is confident that the Blaugrana will soon propose a deal to PSG that involves a transfer fee bundled with a couple of players in hopes of enticing the Parisian side to sell. In actuality, it is likely the best deal Barcelona can offer given their financial constraints. It’s an issue that both PSG and Leonardo are well aware of.
In that same ESPN report, they state that Leonardo told French paper, Le Parisien, that they are aware of Barcelona’s constraints and that they are not in a strong position as buyers nor do they have enough money to buy Neymar without including multiple players in a deal.
According to Marca, when asked if Barca have made a new approach, Leonardo said,
"“There’s been nothing new since the last time we spoke. Absolutely nothing.”"
It’s clear that Barcelona are hoping that the latest spat not only pushes Neymar closer to Barcelona reunion, but that it decreases the fee that PSG would want for the player. PSG do not like to be seen as a selling club and these two sides have had less than cordial dealings in the past.
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Despite the latest drama, PSG still hold all the cards. They’ve dealt with unhappy players in the past. The most recent of those being Adrien Rabiot. In his case, they simply froze him out of the side. If Leonardo holds true to the idea that everyone will be treated the same going forward, that same fate may await Neymar.