Neymar Agrees To Join FC Barcelona: Reports

Neymar has agreed to join FC Barcelona, according to SPORT.

On Thursday, the Catalan daily newspaper reported that his current club Paris Saint-Germain would be willing to let their forward return to the club they bought him from in 2017 when activating his €222 million ($244 million) release clause.

Neymar has likewise informed PSG that he wishes to leave according to L’Equipe, and was later told by new head coach Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos that he does not feature in their plans for the upcoming 2023/2024 season which gets underway at the weekend.

Neymar’s salary, reported as $50 million a year in Forbes’ list of The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes, is difficult for the Catalans to meet considering their struggles navigating Financial Fair Play Limits.

SPORT later added that Neymar would be paid €12 million ($13.1 million) if donning a Blaugrana again.

And on Friday, the outlet reports that Neymar has effectively agreed to join the club he moved to from boyhood outfit Santos in 2013 as he has given his thumbs up to receiving the reduced pay packet.

Now all that remains to hash out is the 31-year-old’s exit from PSG.

Barca can’t afford to pay a fee reported as being between €60-150 million when it comes to PSG’s asking price for the Brazilian.

So what is more likely is that he signs for one of the Saudi clubs overseen by the government-backed Public Investment Fund – with Al-Hilal already being talked about – ahead of being sent out on loan to Barca for at least a year.

All the parties involved seem to be in agreement on such an operation, which is already being discussed with the help of Barca president Joan Lapora’s close friend and Neymar’s representative Pini Zahavi.

Elsewhere, from sources such as UOL Esporte and Fabrizio Romano, there has been talk that Neymar’s contract might be rescinded.

This is not seen as viable, however, because PSG would only terminate his contract if he gives up the remaining three years on the deal which Neymar won’t be willing to do.

Going the Saudi route, however, sees everyone a winner.

PSG get to receive a transfer fee and save money on Neymar’s contract while the player will later be paid handsomely in the Middle East.

Neymar gets the return to Barca he has pined for too, with the La Liga champions boosted by one of the world’s best players when on form and injury-free.