Neymar to Barcelona: PSG salary 'worth sacrificing' for Camp Nou transfer return, insists Rivaldo

AFP/Getty Images
Tom Doyle27 June 2019

Neymar should return to Barcelona this summer - even if it means accepting a salary reduction, according to Camp Nou legend Rivaldo.

Standard Sport understands that Barcelona are preparing for a long summer transfer saga in order to try and bring Neymar back from PSG, two years after the Brazil star left for Paris.

Neymar has made little secret of his unhappiness in recent months, with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi recently stating that he and the club will no loinger tolerate superstar behaviour.

Neymar departed Barcelona in acrimonious circumstances in 2017 after PSG paid the forward's €222 million release clause, while the Selecao star is also currently involved in a €26m legal dispute with the Catalan club over an alleged unpaid bonus.

Despite the nature of his departure, Neymar is thought to be keen on a return to Spain: the 27-year-old is prepared to take a €12m pay cut, drop his legal dispute, and has been told he will have to publicly apologise for how his exit was handled.

Neymar arrives in Paris - In pictures

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Neymar shares a WhatsApp group with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, and Sport reported earlier this week that the Brazilian had also sent a message to Barca in which he told the club he wanted to return.

Messi and the Barca dressing room keen on a reunion with Neymar.
AFP/Getty Images

Former Barcelona forward Rivaldo believes that a return to Camp Nou would be in Neymar's best interests, telling Betfair: "The best option for Neymar this summer is to return to Barcelona, the club he left for Paris Saint German two years ago.

"The Brazilian should apologise to the Barca fans and tell them he's realised that it is in Barcelona that he can play his best football. If he does that, the Barca fans will welcome him back."

Regarding a likely drop in wages, Rivaldo said of his compatriot: "Neymar may need to accept a reduced salary to complete the move, but I believe it would be worth the financial sacrifice as he would probably recover his happiness on and off the pitch.

"Barca is where he has played his best football to date and won his most important club trophies."

One of the reasons that was suggested for Neymar's 2017 departure was the idea that he was trapped in the shadow of Messi, and would likely struggle to win the Ballon d'Or while playing for the same club team as the Argentine.

Neymar - In pictures

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However, Neymar and Brazil struggled at the 2018 World Cup, while Ligue 1's reputation for a lack of competition means that Neymar's achievements in France - two league titles and numerous cups - are given short shrift on the global stage.

But with Messi having just turned 32, Rivaldo believes top honours could lie in store for Neymar if he returns to LaLiga: "In Barcelona, Neymar can become a serious contender to win the Ballon D'Or and improve his chances of winning another Champions League.

AFP/Getty Images

"Sometimes you must take a step back before taking two or three forwards."

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