Neymar OFFERED to Barcelona as part of Dembele deal
Tom Weber
- Updated: 3 Aug 2023 20:23 BST
- 4 min read
Neymar was offered to Barcelona in order to make up for the signing of Ousmane Dembele, claims a Spanish media outlet.
Paris Saint-Germain are on the verge of signing Dembele. They didn't move in time to activate his €50 million release clause, but they managed to strike a deal for the same price due to a 'private clause' that was essentially a one-week extension of the former.
Barcelona felt betrayed by the Frenchman's decision to depart seeing as though he never once expressed his desire to leave. Head coach Xavi claims that the Blaugrana always took great care of their erstwhile record signing.
It is said that this 'betrayal' also shattered the relationship between PSG and Barcelona which was already strained because of the rumours that the latter had made an offer for Kylian Mbappe. Barcelona felt that this gossip was spread by the French club in order to put pressure on Real Madrid to make a move.
READ: PSG set to SACK Campos after Mbappe contract embarrassment
During the short negotiations over the Dembele transfer - Barcelona were essentially obliged to accept PSG's offer - the Parisians reportedly floated the idea of loaning Neymar back to the Camp Nou.
Neymar not a priority
That is at least according to SPORT, which claims that "during the minimal conversations that have taken place between the clubs, PSG once again offered the possibility of a loan for Neymar to Barca."
Though he just returned to the pitch with a bang, scoring twice and recording an assist against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, PSG are said to still want to get rid of the injury-prone, expensive Brazilian as they seek to completely overhaul their squad and public facade away from the glitz and glamour of previous years.
READ: Romano drops 'here we go' on RECORD transfer
Barcelona, however, rejected the chance to take Neymar back. "The operation was completely rejected," states the above-mentioned report. Neymar is "unaffordable no matter how much his salary is lowered and Xavi understands that, for the current project, the Brazilian is not a player who is needed in the dressing room."
