PSG star Neymar pours further doubt on Barcelona return but Messi reunion may happen - 7M sport

PSG star Neymar pours further doubt on Barcelona return but Messi reunion may happen



Posted Thursday, December 17, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Neymar is unlikely to return to Barcelona - but he could still play with Lionel Messi.

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has poured cold water on a potential return to Barcelona by insisting he is happy in the French capital. The Brazilian joined PSG for a world-record £198million in 2017 and is regularly linked with a return to the Nou Camp.

PSG splashed the cash on Neymar in an attempt to win Europe's biggest prize - the Champions League.

The attacker helped his side reach the final last season, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.

For Neymar to one day win the Ballon d'Or it is thought he may have to return to La Liga.

But the 28-year-old hinted he will remain at PSG, where he is under contract until 2020.

"I feel at ease in Paris, I have adapted," Neymar told PokerStars after joining them as an ambassador.

PSG star Neymar pours further doubt on Barcelona return but Messi reunion may happen
Neymar has dropped a hint over his future plans (Image: GETTY)

Speculation has been rumbling on for many weeks that Neymar could be reunited with ex-Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.

The Argentine is expected to walk away from Catalonia for free at the end of the season and there are not many clubs who could afford him.

Manchester City are thought to be interested in the 33-year-old, but a lucrative move to PSG could be tempting.

Barcelona presidential election candidate Emili Rousaud recently admitted that Messi’s current pay packet, where he earns close to £500,000-a-week, isn’t sustainable.

"In the club's current situation Messi's salary is not sustainable, so we'll have to reach an agreement with him,” he said.

"We will present an attractive project to him.

"What matters most here is the sporting project.

"When Messi said he was leaving he didn't mention money. He has the highest salary in the world, no-one earns more than him, he doesn't want to leave because he earns too little.

"He wants to leave because he wants to win trophies.

PSG star Neymar pours further doubt on Barcelona return but Messi reunion may happen
Neymar was speaking after joining PkerStars as an ambassador (Image: PokerStars)

"He referred to that recently when he said, 'the Champions League is not within our reach.' He wants a team full of talent."

Neymar has previously urged Messi to join him at the Parc des Princes - and that is a present he would be most grateful to receive.

However, until that happens he is settling for delivering gifts to himself.

"The last gift I have received was the same one that I’ve decided to gift myself," Neymar explained to PokerStars. "A qualification spot on the Champions League’s final stages, with PSG."

Neymar is a regular on the poker circuit and has previously attended PokerStars' Barcelona event alongside Gerard Pique.

"I am very happy with this partnership," he said. "I have a similar playing style for poker as I do for football - I am aggressive, I like to attack."



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