PSG tell Barcelona who they want in Neymar deal after rejecting first formal offer

Posted Thursday, August 15, 2019 by Express.co.uk

PSG tell Barcelona who they want in Neymar deal after rejecting first formal offer
Barcelona: Neymar transfer bid rejected as PSG demand players as part of the offer (Image: GETTY Images)

BARCELONA have reportedly had their first transfer bid for Neymar rejected by Paris Saint-Germain, as the Parisians want Phillipe Coutinho plus two more players as part of the swap deal.

Barcelona have been ordered to part with Coutinho, Ivan Rakitic, Nelson Semedo and ￡93million if they want to sign Neymar, according to the Daily Mail.

PSG rejected Barca’s opening bid for Neymar on Tuesday, it emerged.

The offer to PSG included Coutinho, as well as ￡74m, in an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to the Nou Camp.

But, PSG are adamant that they want to recoup their ￡206m investment in Neymar in full, which would require a substantially improved bid from Barcelona.

The Catalans were happy to wait to sign Neymar, and were resigned to waiting until the next transfer window, at least.

But, Real Madrid became interested in a potential deal for the PSG forward, after it was revealed that Barcelona weren’t prepared to buy him this summer.

That prompted Barca to reprise their interest, as they don’t want Neymar moving to their biggest rivals.

But, it appears that there are a number of stumbling blocks in the proposed move to Catalonia.

Firstly, Barcelona don’t want to sell Semedo. They consider adding Rakitic to the deal already a tall order.

Also, Rakitic has just bought a new beachside house in Barcelona, and he doesn’t want to leave.

Barca have offered PSG a loan deal with an obligatory clause that would force them to buy Neymar in 12 months' time, but PSG want the full ￡205m immediately.

Neymar himself is desperate to leave PSG this summer, and has spent most of the off-season trying to engineer his move.

He even provoked outrage from the fans after claiming his best memory as a football was helping Barcelona to knock out PSG in the Champions League, after coming back from a 4-0 deficit.

France football hero David Ginola said Neymar should leave after his disrespectful comments.

“He’s a symbolic player here,” he said. “When the supporters hear Neymar say: ‘My best memory as a footballer is when Bar?a came back against PSG’, it was cruel and hurt every [PSG] supporter.

“If a player doesn't respect the club or its values, they should leave.”