The summer transfer window is just weeks away and with that come all the rumors of who could be leaving or arriving in the Spanish capital. One of the biggest rumors swirling around the football world is Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr., joining Real Madrid.
I know what you may be thinking when you see this headline: “There is no way Neymar leaves Paris Saint-Germain just one year after leaving FC Barcelona.” Just hear me out for a minute.
The indicators are all screaming that the 26-year-old is unhappy in France and would like to return to Spain soon. Neymar has butted heads with striker Edinson Cavani, who confirmed that the two were not the best of friends over the course of this season.
“It’s true there was a problem with Neymar. I’m a football worker, not a star,’ Cavini said. “I told him I’m the first guy who wants him to win accolades individually, I’ll do everything to help but on one condition. He must put the team’s objectives first.”
While the two have become friends as of late, this could very well contribute to Neymar wanting out of the French capital. What makes me believe that the expensive forward is unhappy is that he has no reason to be unhappy with his current role with PSG.
The stats prove that this has been one of Neymar’s best season in Europe having scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists in 30 total appearances. His average match rating on WhoScored! is sitting at a mind-boggling 8.9, the highest average of any player in the world.
Adding fuel to the fire is Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr. Over the last two weeks, Neymar Sr. has been sending up signals that he is pushing for his son to leave France. Neymar’s father has been in contact with one of the biggest agents in Europe, Pini Zahavi, as he tries to broker a deal with the Parisian side.
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While Neymar Sr. has been talking with Zahavi, AS is reporting that Real Madrid has been negotiating with Neymar and his party secretly for the last two month or so. The report states that a representative from the club has met with Neymar and his father in Brazil twice while he was recovering from metatarsal surgery.
During these two meetings, the rep from Real Madrid took Flamengo product and future Real player, Vinicius Jr., to “get to know Neymar better.” This certainly is an interesting tactic from Los Blancos as Vinicius will move to Spain either this summer or next.
While I was a doubter of Neymar coming to Real this summer, or for that matter, ever, these rumors have completely changed my thinking. At this point, I would say that the chances of the Brazilian joining him countrymen Casemiro and Marcelo is more likely than ever.
Would this be a good move for Real Madrid to make this summer? I am torn.
While Neymar is a fantastic talent as shown through his phenomenal stats this year and his track record in Euorpe, spending €260 million on one player is absurd. Especially when you consider he plays the same position as Cristiano Ronaldo.
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While Ronaldo only has a handful of world-class years left, Neymar is in his prime right now at 26 and deserves to start every match he is healthy enough to play in.
However, if the Real Madrid coaching staff could manage to adapt their style and integrate Neymar into the lineup alongside CR7, Los Blancos would have the best forward line in the world by far.
It may all be speculation still, but these Neymar to Real Madrid rumors are starting to look less and less like rumors and more like facts.
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