Barcelona seek Saudi HELP for Neymar transfer
Tom Weber
- Updated: 8 Aug 2023 17:24 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona are looking to employ Saudi help to get the Neymar transfer over the line, according to Spanish media.
Reports linking the Brazilian to a shock return to the Camp Nou resurfaced last week and have picked up massive steam in recent days. Neymar is apparently very keen on the move and so are the Blaugrana hierarchy. Paris Saint-Germain, too, are more than happy to get their expensive, injury-prone record signing off the books.
One man, however, has thus far blocked any potential deal. That man is Barcelona head coach Xavi, who believes that there is no need to bring his former teammate back to the club. He is said to be of the opinion that Neymar would not fit into his current squad.
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Nevertheless, murmurs about the transfer are refusing to subside and Catalan bigwigs like club president Joan Laporta are trying to convince Xavi to change his mind, believing that Neymar can still be a success on and off the pitch.
In their bid to land the Brazilian megastar, Barcelona are apparently ready to employ Saudi help.
Neymar to Barcelona via Saudi Arabia?
That's at least according to SPORT, which claims that Barcelona are keen to use their good relationship with Saudi Arabia to strike a deal that would see the 31-year-old head back to Catalonia for a season.
The report asserts that Barcelona, in conjunction with super-agent Pini Zahavi, are trying to convince a Saudi club to sign Neymar permanently and then send him on loan to Spain for a year, while shouldering most of his salary.
READ: Arsenal make ‘TEMPTING’ transfer offer for Barcelona star
"According to sources close to the negotiation," writes the Spanish outlet, "this is the only option being considered for a hypothetical return of Neymar...The contribution of the Saudi club would end up being compensated with some commercial agreements that could also mean a friendly match."
"It must be remembered that Pini Zahavi and Joan Laporta met with the president of the Saudi federation at the end of May to strengthen ties and open channels of collaboration." But would a Saudi club agree to such an outlandish proposal?
