Reports from Spain indicate that Neymar is eager to make a significant return to Barcelona. Currently playing for Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, the 32-year-old Brazilian star has been recovering from a major knee injury sustained in October. Despite this setback, Neymar is determined to rejoin Barcelona, the club he left in 2017 when he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a record fee of €222 million.
According to Bar Canaletes, Neymar frequently communicates with Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, which has fueled his desire to return to Camp Nou. However, any potential transfer is unlikely to happen before the summer of 2025, as Neymar’s contract with Al-Hilal runs until then. By that time, he could potentially team up with Erling Haaland, as Laporta has initiated discussions with the Manchester City striker to consider him as a possible future replacement for Robert Lewandowski in Barcelona’s attack.
Neymar’s potential return to Barcelona comes with financial challenges. His previous high salaries at PSG and Al-Hilal create uncertainty about whether he would accept a significant pay cut to move back to Barcelona. If Neymar is open to reducing his salary demands, the possibility of his return becomes more plausible.
There are also concerns regarding Neymar’s fitness, as he has suffered at least one major injury each season since joining PSG. This pattern raises questions about his ability to recover fully from his latest and most severe injury. Since leaving Barcelona, Neymar has made 178 club appearances, averaging only 25 games per season over the past seven years.
Despite these concerns, the prospect of Neymar’s return to Barcelona remains appealing to Joan Laporta, who is captivated by the excitement and flair that such a move would bring to the club.
