FIVE reasons Barcelona won't consider Neymar

Stuart Telford

• 9 Jun 2023 16:13 BST
• 3 min read

Neymar has been linked with a sensational return to Barcelona now that Lionel Messi has chosen to leave PSG for Inter Miami instead of Camp Nou, but the chances of a reunion with the Brazilian appear slim.

Barcelona spent most of the last season flirting with the idea of a Messi return, with their fans chanting his name in the 10th minute of games as the board worked to secure his return, but the Argentine spurned them - and Al-Hilal - to sign for Inter Miami.

Neymar and Messi were teammates for four years at Barcelona before being reunited at Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, but Kylian Mbappe has long since become the dressing room leader at the Parc des Princes, and whilst he cherished playing alongside Messi, the Frenchman's feuds with Neymar have grown increasingly public.

READ: Neymar back to Barcelona? Xavi makes his feelings CLEAR

Odds stacked against Barca and Neymar

PSG are ready to offload Neymar, but Camp Nou isn't a viable destination for him according to Diario Sport's Barcelona writer Didac Peyret, who cites FFP, his transfer fee, injuries, lifestyle and performances as five stumbling blocks.

"That is why Neymar's future, more than Barca, seems to go through the Premier League," he concludes.

Barca's financial dire straits have been well documented, with La Liga telling the club they have to reduce their debt by €200 million if they want to defend their title next season. Neymar is under contract at PSG until 2025 and valued at €56.6m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm.

READ: Neymar 'opens talks' with Premier League giants

Whilst he missed 15 games with injury this season, Neymar dialled down the visits to Brazil for relatives' birthday parties, and contributed 18 goals and 17 assists in all competitions before undergoing ankle surgery in February.