Is Neymar on his way back to Barcelona?
What's the story
As per media reports, Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Neymar is on his way back to Spanish giants, Barcelona. Neymar, who struggled at Le Parc des Princes, has reportedly said that he wants to go back to Barca. Notably, even PSG are willing to sell him if Barca accept a swap deal. Here is more about this development.
Demands
Neymar accepts Barca's three demands
It is being reported that Neymar has accepted the demands of his former club Barcelona. The demands included the withdrawal of claim on the loyalty bonus, followed by a lower salary and also publicly admitting that he wants to return to Barca. Neymar is also reported to have said, "I want to go back to my house, where I should never have left."
Information
Neymar texts Barca players saying that he would return
In another major development, it has been reported by Spanish media houses that Neymar personally texted the players of Barca and said, "Don't worry, I am coming." If this is true, Neymar seems to be really confident of closing the deal.
PSG failure
Neymar fails to make impact at PSG, remained injury prone
Unfortunately, his stint with PSG was not a fruitful one. Having played only a couple of seasons, he managed to score 51 goals in 58 matches. His best campaign came in 2017-18, where he scored 28 goals in 30 games. However, he remained injury prone for most of his tenure, as he missed out on big matches.
Swap deal
Swap deal likely for Philippe Coutinho
While it remains to be seen if Barcelona manage to bring Neymar back, it surely won't be easy. The amount is likely to be around £100 million, but it won't be all. There are reports that PSG would like to have Philippe Coutinho in a swap deal. While Barca may let Coutinho go, Manchester United too are looking to acquire his services.
Author's take
Neymar must play where he is comfortable
While Neymar is currently recovering from an injury, thus missing the ongoing Copa America, a return to Barcelona would make sense. The author feels that Neymar should only play where his heart is. Having scored 105 goals in 186 matches for Barca, including winning eight titles in four seasons, his style suits Barca's gameplay. The move to PSG was always a selfish one.