Paris Saint Germain Ready To Loan And Sell Neymar Opening Door To FC Barcelona Return: Reports

Paris Saint Germain are ready to loan Neymar out with an option to buy according to reports from L’Equipe in France and Carrusel Deportivo in Spain, which opens to door to a potential return to FC Barcelona.

PSG famously bought the Brazilian from the Catalans in 2017 when activating his €222 million ($244 million) release clause, and smashed the world transfer record in the process.

Neymar has suffered mixed fortunes in his near-six year tenure at the Parc des Princes. Though winning Ligue 1 four times since switching allegiances, he has failed to lift either the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player or the Champions League which were primary motives behind making the move held by player and club alike.

The 31-year-old’s plan to emerge out of the shadow of former Barca teammate Lionel Messi never quite came off. And with Messi later joining him in France but now on his way out of PSG when his contract expires on June 30, Neymar might follow the Argentine through the exit door in quick succession.

According to reports from France and Spain, which have emerged the day after a gang of fans gathered outside the forward’s house and hurled insults, PSG are ready to cut their losses with Neymar.

The Qatari-backed giants are open to loaning out their most expensive player, and also including an option to buy in the deal. As Neymar has a contract which runs until 2027, though, he is under no obligation to move if he doesn’t wish.

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League clubs such as Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Chelsea provide potential next destinations if Neymar fancies a new challenge. Though given his unfinished business with the Blaugrana, plus Messi potentially heading back to Camp Nou, a return to FC Barcelona can’t be ruled out.

As always, however, money would be a sticking issue for the cash-strapped La Liga leaders. Currently struggling to shed €200 million ($220 million) from the wage bill in order to re-sign Messi, Barca can’t offer anything remotely close to Neymar’s current wages.

In 2022, Neymar finished fourth on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players with $87 million – $55 million of which was made on-field and $32 million off-field.

It is currently unclear whether PSG will foot the lion’s share of Neymar’s salary while whoever takes him on loan pays the rest. If his prospective new club is expected to take on the whole tab, however, this rules out practically every European club except Manchester City and Newcastle as Neymar’s next stop.