Neymar will need to join Barcelona for free, says Laporta
Robin Bairner
- 25 May 2022 04:53 CDT
- 3 min read
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hinted that he would be open to Neymar returning to Camp Nou from PSG – but only on the unlikely condition that he does so for free.
Neymar departed Barca in 2017 to sign for the Ligue 1 side in a world-record €222 million deal that shook the footballing world.
Five years later, the Brazil international has never quite lived up to that billing in a spell that has been disrupted by persistent injury concerns.
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L’Equipe now reports that PSG would be open to selling the 30-year-old should they receive an adequate offer.
Laporta, who also claimed the French side sign players into “slavery”, has now addressed suggestions that Barcelona could be a potential destination for the attacker.
Who doesn't love Neymar? He's an exceptional player
- Joan Laporta“Who doesn't love Neymar? He's an exceptional player,” he told L'Esportiu.
“But all these players to return to Barca one day should come for free because we’re not able to carry out a transfer operation for the fees that these players would cost.
“After that, it would be a question of whether the coach felt he could fit into the new Barcelona project.”
Will Neymar re-join Barcelona?
Barcelona’s stance, therefore, seems to be that Neymar would be welcomed back if he re-joined the club on a free transfer.
Even if PSG are willing to allow the forward to leave, he would almost certainly not be allowed to depart for free just 12 months on after signing a new deal.
Neymar arguably had his worst season in France during 2021/22 but at least finished the campaign strongly, having suffered several injury issues throughout the season, including an ankle problem that saw him miss around 10 weeks.
Indeed, he got at least one goal or an assist in each of his last seven Ligue 1 fixtures, which could prove to be his last for the club.
