Football is a complicated business, and we don’t need to be the ones to tell you that. We can all pinpoint it as being a sport or a game or a distraction from the hardships of life, but at the end of the day, it’s a business and we all have to come to terms with that.
Players come and go due to the nature of the transfer windows, and in truth, we all know that’s a possibility on a year to year basis. However, there are some players that are so enticing that millions upon millions of fans will be waiting to see what their next move will be.
One such example in none other than Neymar. The Brazilian sensation recently had to sit out and watch his Brazilian teammates thrive in the Copa America, as they captured the trophy for the first time in 12 years. What many will consider to be even more of a headline than that, though, is his current transfer status.
What a story
As reported by BBC, Neymar hasn’t turned up to pre-season training with Paris Saint-Germain which has prompted the following response from the club.
“Paris St-Germain notes that Neymar Jr was not in attendance at the agreed time and place. This was without the club’s prior authorisation,” read a statement.
“The club regrets this situation.”
The rumour mill suggests that both Barcelona and Real Madrid are in the mix when it comes to securing his signature, but it definitely feels like Barca, his former club, are further along in the process as they attempt to bring the controversial forward back to the Nou Camp. As reported by The Guardian, PSG’s sporting director seems to have indicated that they are more than open to the idea of him leaving the club.
“Only one thing is certain today: he is under contract with us for three years. And since we have not received an offer, there is nothing to discuss. We have not received any offers. But we have had, it is true, superficial contact [with Barcelona].
Childish behaviour?
“They said they want to buy him but that we are not selling. It was [Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu] who said that. But we have not seen that Barcelona are truly in a position to buy him. A move of this magnitude is not just a question of emotions. It is a financial question.
“Neymar can leave PSG, if there is an offer which suits everyone. But up to now, we do not know if anyone wants to buy him, or at what price. It will not be done in a day, that’s for sure.”
It seems like the message is very clear: Paris Saint-Germain aren’t going to sit back and deal with this kind of pressure from Neymar and Barcelona, and they aren’t going to act as if they’re okay with it. Neymar, true to his character, seems to be going down the unprofessional route with trying to force this move away, which is what we’ve come to expect.