Former Barcelona star Neymar Jr. is reportedly keen on making a dramatic return to the Catalan giants, with sources claiming he is willing to do so “at any cost”, Soccernet.football understands.
This revelation, brought to light by journalist JoanFontes, has sparked widespread speculation about a possible reunion between Neymar and Barcelona, a club where he once formed part of the legendary ‘MSN’ trio alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
Neymar, who now plies his trade with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, has a deep-rooted history with Barcelona.
Having joined the club in 2013 from Santos, the Brazilian forward quickly became a fan favourite, contributing significantly to the team’s success.
During his four-year stint at Camp Nou, Neymar helped secure numerous titles, including two La Liga crowns and the 2015 UEFA Champions League.
In 2017, Neymar shocked the football world by transferring to Paris Saint-Germain in a record-breaking €222 million deal.
Barcelona have been interested in signing a right-footed left winger all summer but no deal has been done yet with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams choosing to stay with the Copa del Rey winners.
Neymar’s return to Barcelona would raise Barcelona’s profile as the top challenger to champions Real Madrid who have added Kylian Mbappe to their star-studded squad ahead of the new season.
However, despite his star status, the possibility of his return to Barcelona is fraught with challenges.
A major obstacle is Neymar’s troubling injury record since his departure. Recurrent injuries have plagued the forward, sidelining him for significant portions of several seasons.
Additionally, his current salary, one of the highest in world football, presents a serious financial burden for Barcelona, a club already grappling with severe financial difficulties.
Barcelona’s precarious financial situation, compounded by stringent La Liga salary cap regulations, makes the prospect of re-signing Neymar increasingly unlikely.