Barcelona players unhappy over Neymar saga

Barcelona’s failed pursuit of Neymar has left many players within the dressing room unhappy.

Barcelona were well aware that their pursuit of Neymar was going to be difficult. The financial demands presented by PSG were always going to be hard to reach and they would have to get creative if they wanted the return of the Brazilian.

One of the rumors throughout the  entire process was Barcelona trying to convince PSG to accept a smaller transfer fee but including players that the Parisian side would want. However, in the end both sides were unable to come to an agreement for the Brazilian.

But in their chase to bring back their former superstar, the club managed to ruffle the feathers of a handful of players including some of the heavyweights.

According to Marca, the Barcelona dressing room is not well with “many members of the first-team squad feeling cheated after a transfer window that added so much.”

To make matters worse, AS are reporting that the relationship between Lionel Messi and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu is strained after the latter failed to secure the services of Neymar. In fact, Bartomeu tried to avoid Messi during the UEFA awards in Monaco so as not to have to talk about the negotiations. At that time, many were still under the impression that a deal would get done.

Alongside Messi, Luis Suarez also feels disappointed because he too thought they would be reunited with the Neymar and return to the days of the MSN when they comprised one of the strongest front three in world football. Both of them were kept aware of the negotiations by Neymar himself and felt a deal would happen.

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The discontent does not fall solely on those who wanted Neymar back but also on those who heard their name brought up in rumors going to PSG in exchange for the Brazilian. Names such as Ivan Rakitic, Nelson Semedo, Jean-Clair Todibo, Arturo Vidal, Ousmande Dembele, and Philippe Coutinho, who ultimately went to Bayern Munich.

According to The Express, Rakitic is clearly upset with Bartomeu for dangling him throughout the summer in the Neymar talks. The Croatian has every right to be considering how vital he has been to Barcelona since his arrival back in 2014. He’s expressed countless times at his desire to stay but has to feel a sense of betrayal at how willing the club were to include him in a potential exchange.

Nelson Semedo could feel the same way considering he had an offer from Atletico Madrid. Barcelona made the negotiations difficult valuing the Portuguese right-back at a price Atletico were unwilling to pay presumably because Semedo was going to be the starter this season after playing second fiddle to Sergi Roberto.

Ernesto Valverde is now handed the task of trying to create harmony in a broken locker room whether it’s because a player they wanted to come back did not return or because some of the players feel undervalued hearing their names enter negotiations.

Whether or not Barcelona were ever completely committed to bringing back Neymar is up for each person to decide. Failing to do so has now caused a rift in the locker room that needs to be resolved quickly as the club has started the season poorly for their standards and cannot afford to fall further in the standings.