Does a move for Neymar Jr. make sense for FC Barcelona?
When Neymar was presented in front of 56,500 fans at Camp Nou, it was just the beginning of his stardom.
Arriving in 2013 from Brazil’s Santos, who produced one of the greatest footballers of all time in Pelé, Neymar was considered the next great young talent to come out of this historic club. FC Barcelona jumped on board to sign the talent, and it turned out to be a beneficial move for years to come.
Along with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, MSN was an unstoppable force. Setting records with ease and winning titles domestically and internationally, the South American trio were unlike anything this beautiful game has ever seen before.
However, when Neymar decided that he wanted to be the main guy for a squad, he departed the Catalan side and joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. For €222 ($259) million, it is still the most expensive transfer in the history of the sport.
While Neymar got the opportunity to be the prime focus for the Parisians, he never took full advantage of the opportunity. From failing to take the club to the next level (especially on the international stage) to constantly missing matches, the signing was ultimately considered a failure.
Six years after making the move to France’s capital, Neymar made a shocking move to Saudi Arabia, joining Al-Hilal on a two-year contract (also the most expensive purchase in Saudi Pro League history).
From getting offered a hefty salary to receiving an extreme amount of benefits with his deal, Neymar was offered the world. Instead, this move turned out to be a huge failure for the Saudi giants, as the Brazilian only had four goal contributions (one goal and three assists) in seven matches during his time at the club. After terminating his contract, Neymar returned to his boyhood club in hopes of returning back to form.
Now in São Paulo, the 33-year-old is back and enjoying the game he loves while also playing a pivotal part in Santos’ success early on in their season. Currently, the Peixe have qualified for the semifinals of the 2025 Paulistão. However, Neymar may already be planning his next move.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, there have been discussions between Neymar’s camp and Barça over a possible return this summer. However, the question from members of Barça to fans across the globe remains: Is it worth it to sign him?
For sentimental reasons, it gives Neymar the chance to finish where he started after his premature move. In addition, he views this move as a chance to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in what could be his last hurrah for the Seleção. The winger has already shown a glimpse of what he can do at the club level since returning to Brazil, including scoring this Olimpico.
While Neymar’s talent has never been questioned, it’s his availability that has been a detriment to his career. Since his move to PSG, the Brazilian has only had one campaign where he featured in more than 30 matches across all competitions at the club level (2020-21). Is it worth the risk to sign him when he’s been such a liability for years?
Also, the question remains about how Neymar would fit into the squad. From reports, he would be willing to reduce his salary to rejoin the La Liga side. Except, with players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and more filling in the attacking spots, would his addition even be necessary (especially with the club’s history of consistently having problems with registering players)?
Neymar was a fantastic player for the Catalan side, and it would be great to see him suit up once again for the Blaugrana. However, 12 years after he first left the club, is a player on their last legs worth the risk for Barça as they aim for domination?