BOMBSHELL: Neymar to leave PSG – along with four other stars

Suraj Radia

Updated: 9 Aug 2023 19:21 BST
4 min read

Paris Saint-Germain have told five first team players that they will not be needed this season, including neymar, with the Brazilian potentially a candidate to have his contract terminated this summer.

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The French side are looking to rebuild away from last season’s ‘big three’ of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar and focus on a younger core following the failure to win a Champions League in the first 12 years under their Qatari owners.

Messi has joined Inter Miami while Mbappe’s future is uncertain, however the focus has shifted onto Neymar, with both PSG and the forward set to hold talks over a mutually-beneficial exit from the club, according to Brazilian outlet UOL.

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PSG would prefer a permanent sale but there are few clubs willing to ‘assume the financial package’ for Neymar, with Saudi side Al-Hilal currently the main interested party.

A loan with an obligation to buy, likely within Europe, is the next priority but a contract termination has not been ruled out either despite Neymar reportedly triggering an extension to his deal until 2027 last year.

The 31-year-old is the most significant name in a group of stars that were excluded from PSG’s media day, which involved official photos being taken of the first team, and the quintet have been encouraged to seek moves away from the club this summer.

PSG tell five stars to leave

Along with Neymar, Marco Verratti was absent from training this week and the pair were told to work indoors as they will not be part of the first team this season, with the Italian having strong transfer interest from Saudi Arabia.

French paper RMC Sport state that Renato Sanches, Juan Bernat and Hugo Ekitike have also been told that PSG are not counting on them this season, although they may still be integrated into the first team if they are still present past deadline day.

Mbappe is also expected to leave the French side after turning down the option to extend his contract beyond next year, with PSG’s owners insisting the forward must be sold before the end of the month.

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However, Mbappe has so far resisted any attempts to sell him and insists he will see out the season at PSG, with a belief that the French captain has already agreed to join Real Madrid next summer when his contract expires.