The Catalan giants have removed the Brazilian star from their transfer list and put any possibility of a reunion to the grave.
Laporte’s dream of a return for Neymar is over
For months, a potential return for Neymar Jr. to Camp Nou has been discussed among Barcelona’s decision-makers. Club president Joan Laporta, who is a great admirer of the player, drove the idea himself and had a close dialogue with Neymar’s inner circle. But despite the initial commitment, the club has now rejected all plans to bring back the former PSG star.
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Why was the decision made?
Financially, the transition seemed feasible:
- Neymar’s contract with Santos expires on June 30, and he would have come for free.
- He wanted to use his time in Europe to get World Cup ready for 2026 (his last major championship).
- The salary would be around 10 million euros per year – in line with Barcelona’s new salary structure.
- His experience and flexibility in attack also suited the sport.
But according to Sport, two decisive factors have caused the club to withdraw:
- Lamine Yamal’s explosive development
- The 16-year-old talent has established himself as Barcelona’s new attacking star.
- The club sees him as the new face of both the present and the future – and a Neymar return could overshadow his further growth.
- Neymar’s fragile health
- Since his return to Brazil, he has hardly played continuously due to muscle injuries and long-term rehabilitation after his cruciate ligament injury in 2023.
- Barcelona fears a lack of reliability both physically and sportingly.
A final closing
After thorough considerations, Barcelona have chosen to definitively close the Neymar chapter. Thus, the dream of a reunion is finally over – in favor of a new era with Yamal and other young talents.
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