PSG reportedly slash Neymar asking price as Barcelona circle
According to a report by Le Parisien, PSG is willing to let Brazilian superstar Neymar leave this summer for a very low fee.
The 26-year-old arrived in Paris from Barcelona for a humongous €222 million in 2017, becoming the most expensive player of all time. His transfer is probably the most significant one in football history, as it has irrevocably inflated player valuations to a point where teenagers are being sold in excess of €100 million.
Neymar was expected to be a marquee player for PSG, a player who could lead the club to an elusive Champions League title. While he has helped his team win the Ligue 1 title twice, PSG has failed to progress past the round of 16 in Europe.
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The Brazilian himself has drawn a lot of flak for his on and off the field antics. He’s been criticized heavily for diving (particularly in the 2018 World Cup), and has also spent a lot of time on the sidelines with injuries.
In addition, Neymar got himself banned for 3 Champions League matches after ranting against match officials on Instagram following PSG’s defeat to Manchester United last season.
With club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi claiming earlier this summer that only truly dedicated players would be allowed to remain at the club, it comes as no surprise that Neymar is being linked with moves to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
PSG was initially demanding a fee of around €300 million for him, but Le Parisien claim that the asking price could now be as low as €130 million.
There is still the possibility of someone like Philippe Coutinho being included in the deal. With Barca also reportedly ready to move for Antoine Griezmann, there were naturally doubts regarding the amount that they’d be able to spend on Neymar, but a 50% drop in PSG’s valuation could significantly change things.
Ousmane Dembele is also being named as a player who could be involved in a swap. Thomas Tuchel clearly wants a player who can directly replace Neymar as a part of the transfer, and it remains to be seen whether that would further bring his price down.
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With the potential additions of Griezmann and Neymar, Barcelona will end up with a wealth of attacking talent at its disposal. A front 4 including those two, and Messi and Suarez, would surely turn the Catalans into genuine Champions League contenders.