The world’s most expensive player Neymar is said to be looking for a new roost and is thinking about leaving Paris Saint Germain this summer, according to reports from France. The Qatari-backed giants excitedly stumped out €222 million ($234 million) to FC Barcelona for the Brazilian in 2017.
Now five years on despite having renewed his until 2027, Neymar is considering making a beeline for an exit from the Parc des Princes according to RMC Sport as the French outlet attributes this to the 30-year-old becoming unhappy and feeling targeted by comments recently made by the club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
The Qatari Sports Investments head has recently expressed his expectations for a change of attitude and a shake-up behind the scenes at PSG after the club was put through another disappointing exit from the Champions League at the hands of eventual winners Real Madrid in the last 16.
When the question was put to him on the possibility of Neymar departing in the current transfer window during an interview with MARCA, Al-Khelaifi sidestepped the question but stressed that the club wanted “young, talented, committed players with a winning mentality, people who want to die for this badge”.
“We want to be stronger collectively, to play as a team and for the club to be above all,” Al-Khelaifi added.
“Some will come and some will go, but these are private negotiations,” he maintained.Although his name wasn’t specifically mentioned, Neymar is said to be feeling uncomfortable by the remarks and could now look for a potential suitor amid Kylian Mbappe agreeing fresh terms until 2025.
The question begging to be asked, as RMC pointed out, is where could the striker possibly head to as his former club Barca are still cash-strapped with debts of around $1.5 billion, and are also looking at other targets such as Robert Lewandowski, Bernardo Silva and Neymar’s Brazil teammate Raphinha.
Elsewhere, like in the Premier League, Chelsea are hoping to land Ousmane Dembele and Raheem Sterling while Manchester City have just cheerily bought Erling Haaland. Meanwhile Manchester United are closing in on Frenkie de Jong and are also instead targeting Antony, another Brazil colleague Neymar’s.
There is also the consideration that Neymar himself has also been open about not wanting to play in the Premier League in the past.
This being the World Cup year that he has hinted could be his last, the Brazilian will need to be prudent in choosing his next destination so as to arrive at the November tournament in his best form and fitness, or at least something hopefully better than his lackluster return of 13 goals and eight assists in 28 appearances last term if he were to remain at PSG.
With head coach Mauricio Pochettino allegedly agreeing to part ways with PSG in recent weeks, this would likely be under incoming boss Christophe Galtier from Nice.