MLS chief: We don't want Neymar
Martin Macdonald
- 23 Feb 2022 05:10 CST
- 3 min read
The commissioner of Major League Soccer insists the competition does not want Neymar if the Brazilian will treat the move to the United States as a semi-retirement.
Earlier this week, the Brazilian was asked questions about his future plans, including a potential return to Brazil.
Neymar responded by saying that a move to MLS interests him, but only because of the long off-season which would allow him to take an extended holiday.
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"I really want to play at Santos again. What I really miss is playing at home, my God, this stadium is wonderful," he said on the Fenomenos podcast.
“I also really want to play in the United States, at least for a season. It's a short championship.
"You have three or four months of vacation."
Neymar not welcome in MLS?
Neymar remains the most expensive player in the history of football, having joined PSG from Monaco for €222 million.
Though is still one of the most marketable footballers on the planet, his performances on the pitch have been underwhelming at PSG.
His injury record, in particular, is worrying.
Since making the move to the French capital, Neymar has missed a massive 101 games due to injury at PSG.
The Brazilian has never once played more than 20 of PSG’s 38 Ligue 1 matches in his five seasons at the club. In three of the four previous campaigns he has featured in less than 50 per cent of Ligue 1 games.
Any move to the MLS would naturally come with massive fanfare, but it appears he won't be welcomed if his attitude to the competition is not taken seriously.
“We don't need to bring in a great player at the end of his career because he has decided he wants to take pre-retirement from MLS," commissioner Don Garber told the press on Tuesday.
"If they don't come here to play and contribute meaningfully to our teams and our league, respect the league and its fans, otherwise we don't want them in MLS."
