Neymar’s PSG situation has Ronaldo similarities as big transfer hint dropped

Robin Bairner

23 Jul 2022 15:07 BST
3 min read

Neymar faces the prospect of being PSG’s Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, with a transfer possible but a lack of apparent suitors available.

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Unlike Ronaldo at Manchester United, though, the desire for a deal to be struck appears not to be coming from the player but the club.

FootballTransfers understands that Neymar has struck up a positive relationship with new PSG head coach Christophe Galtier, but that his €30 million per year wages may compel sporting director Luis Campos, who is in charge of transfer policy at Parc des Princes, into a sale.

Certainly, Galtier’s words on Saturday suggest the door remains open for Neymar to leave the Parc des Princes side this summer.

The Brazil international’s future has been subject to significant speculation over the course of the transfer window, particularly as PSG have spoken of ending their ‘bling-bling’ era.

Neymar transfer latest

It was a situation that appeared to have settled down until Galtier spoke after the 3-0 friendly win over Urawa Reds, in which Pablo Sarabia, Kylian Mbappe and Arnaud Kalimuendo were on target.

“What will happen in the near future, before the transfer market closes, I don’t know,” the coach admitted. “It’s in the media saying that he’s going, then that he’s staying. I’ve not spoken to him personally about this.

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“But he doesn’t seem to me to be disturbed by all that’s said about him and his situation at the club. I see that in his training sessions and the joy he has in working.

“Neymar has been training well since the start of the season. He seems happy to me. He is very fit.”

It is quite a revelation for the coach to be so candid about the future of a superstar and will surely not have gone unnoticed around Europe.

Neymar wants PSG stay

Meanwhile, Neymar indicated he has no plans of leaving PSG.

“I always want to stay at the club,” he said. “Up to this point, the club have said nothing to me, so I don’t know what their plans are for me.”

As is the case for Ronaldo, the market for a player with Neymar’s salary is limited. Reports in France suggest he was offered back to Barcelona this summer, with the Catalans declining, while Chelsea and Bayern Munich are two other clubs who have been touted for a possible transfer.

It is no coincidence that these are also the sides being discussed with regards a late move for the Portuguese.