The talk of the summer has been Neymar, Neymar, Neymar. Antoine Griezmann did steal some of the spotlight after publicizing his move away from Atletico Madrid with fans still wondering whether the Frenchman will be repping the blaugrana colors next season, but it’s Neymar who tops the chart for creating the most buzz in the football world this transfer summer market, and I have to mention it’s nothing new.
According to reports in Brazil, Neymar is very close to joining the Catalan team for the second time in his career. Yet, despite all the smiles he has given the Barcelona faithful, particularly when he was the showman behind the team’s 6-1 historic Champions League comeback, accepting him back to Camp Nou would be a mistake.
Talent is not the issue, rather his personality
No one has ever doubted his incredible talent with the ball, it is clear that if he does make a return, he would add a much-needed spark to the squad, one that has failed to lift the European Cup for four consecutive years. Speaking solely on football terms, Neymar would be ideal. His quick pace, threat at set-pieces and class dribbling to break through a wall of defense is exactly what the Blaugranas need, but flipping the coin, what they don’t need is a player that causes drama and the truth is that Neymar carries a wave of problems wherever he goes. His ugly and disrespectful way of departing from Barcelona in 2017 should also come as a major red flag to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
My two cents
This is a lesson of valuing what is right in front of you. Neymar had it all. He was dominating world football alongside the best in the world, top class players who shaped him into a responsible and focused footballer, that everyone admired. The good influences around him converted Neymar into one of the best players in the world, yet the Brazilian had different plans in mind and thought he needed something better, a ‘challenge’, but instead he just tracked backwards. The €222M move to PSG was doomed from the start. Since his mega million transfer to the Parisien club, Neymar has gone from the player that defenders have nightmares about, to one who decides when he comes to training, who leaves to his home country without informing the coaching staff, and a player who has fallen injured for a handful of times this season.
And let’s not forget that 20-year-old Kylian Mbappe has taken the throne from Neymar at PSG, as the former Barca man is no longer seen as the main leader anymore. Curiously enough, the Brazilian supposedly left Barcelona to release himself from being trapped in Lionel Messi’s shadow but now is stuck in the youngster’s shadow. Seems like his ‘challenge’ has taken another route and Neymar wants to come back home, but is he worth it?