With the End of PSG’s Superstar Era, New Insights on Neymar’s Departure from Barcelona Emerge
With PSG losing Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe in the last two summer transfer windows, the superstar era at the club has come to an end. However, the stories of how these stars arrived in Paris continue to be discussed. Notably, Neymar’s transfer from FC Barcelona to PSG in 2017 for a release clause fee of €222 million made a significant impact.
Behind Neymar’s Departure from Barcelona
Former Barcelona vice-president Javier Bordas, in an interview with SPORT, revealed that Neymar actually wanted to stay at Barcelona rather than move to PSG. Bordas also stated that the Brazilian star would have achieved great success had he returned to Barcelona, emphasizing Neymar’s desire to come back even after his departure.
Ballon d’Or Ambitions
Bordas said, “I wanted him to stay, and there were options for him to return. If he had come back, he would have won the Ballon d’Or with Barça. He wanted to come back so much that even a few weeks after leaving, he wanted to return.”
Neymar’s Successes and Disappointments at PSG
In 2020, Neymar came close to winning the UEFA Champions League with PSG, but the team lost in the final to Bayern Munich. Nevertheless, if they had won that match, the cost of his transfer would have been justified, as it was a trophy the club had long sought after.
