Mbappe drama a 'game-changer' for Neymar at PSG

Tom Weber

• Updated: 25 Jul 2023 16:25 BST
• 3 min read

Neymar could be a surprise beneficiary of the Kylian Mbappe drama at Paris Saint-Germain.

The saga surrounding the Frenchman has shocked the footballing world. The decision not to extend his expiring contract caused outrage at PSG and, after failing to communicate that he would be open to signing a new deal, Mbappe has now been exiled from the squad and transfer listed.

While the senior squad is currently in Japan, Mbappe, Georginio Wijnaldum and other PSG outcasts are training alone in Paris. The French giants have received a world-record bid from Al-Hilal worth €300 million, with Mbappe set to earn a base salary of €200m for one season, but so far there is no indication that the 24-year-old is prepared to move to Saudi Arabia, even just temporarily.

READ: LeBron James mocks record Saudi offer for Mbappe

Nevertheless, Mbappe likely won't feature much for PSG next season even if he is not sold this summer - and this is great news for Neymar.

Neymar's comeback

Expected to be the first of the deadly Messi-Neymar-Mbappe trident to depart PSG, the Brazilian will ultimately end up being the last man standing after Messi departed for Inter Miami.

The Parisians were already open to offloading Neymar last summer and they were once again entertaining offers for him this time around, but the world's most expensive player has no intention to leave his lucrative PSG contract.

Despite having fan protests aimed at him last season, Neymar recently said defiantly: "I hope [to play this season] at PSG. I have a contract with Paris Saint-Germain and so far no one has told me anything. Even if there is no love between fans and players, I will be there."

READ: Mbappe’s Ronaldo INSULT after Al-Hilal’s record transfer bid

Indeed, Neymar - ahead of schedule in recovering from his ankle surgery - is expected to play a big role under his ex-Barcelona boss Luis Enrique. According to Footmercato, Mbappe's possible exit is a "game-changer" for the Brazilian as "he is certainly one of the big winners of the summer at PSG, a club that obviously counts more on him than on KM7 now."