Real Madrid are reportedly still harbouring hopes of signing former Barcelona superstar Neymar from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
As per a report from Spanish publication MARCA, Real Madrid are hoping to launch a summer move to try and lure Brazilian superstar Neymar from PSG, as they look to bolster their attacking ranks ahead of the next season.
It has been a very disappointing season for Real Madrid, which is set to end without any trophy. The entire squad has failed to live up to the expectations, leading to talks of a summer overhaul, with Zinedine Zidane keen on strengthening his roster across all areas of the pitch.
Attack has been a huge letdown for Real Madrid this season, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s summer departure to Juventus. Apart from leading goalscorer Karim Benzema, nobody has really stepped up to the plate, which has been one of the main reasons for the Merengues’ underwhelming campaign.
In order to address that Real Madrid are looking at options to boost their attacking contingent. Eden Hazard has been the primary target for Los Blancos and they are reportedly closing in on signing the Belgian international.
Along with the Chelsea superstar, the Spanish heavyweights are also plotting a swoop for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic as well. Amidst all this, Real Madrid are still hopeful of making a move for PSG superstar Neymar. The Brazilian international has been on Madrid’s radar since his days with Brazilian club Santos, but Los Blancos were beaten to his signing by arch-rivals Barcelona in 2013.
The 27-year-old went on to have a sensational four-year spell with Barcelona, during which he scored 105 goals from 186 matches, winning two La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy. Neymar then went on to become the world’s most expensive footballer in 2017, when he completed a world-record €222 million move to PSG.
Currently in his second season with Les Parisiens, Neymar has been a bit of a hit and miss in France. While he has been his dominant best in Ligue 1, the Brazilian hasn’t been able to take PSG to the next level in Europe and has had to battle injury issues in plenty as well.
Neymar has not taken the field for PSG since January owing to an injury. So far this term, the 27-year-old has managed just 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and setting up 11 more in those matches.
His time in Paris might not have been the greatest of success, but Neymar’s quality is undoubted. Real Madrid have been huge admirers of the former Barcelona superstar for a long time now and are hoping that signing him in the summer could solve all their problems in the final third of the pitch.
Neymar is contracted with PSG till 2022 and is likely to command another world-record transfer fee if Real Madrid want to press ahead with their interest in him. It will be a huge coup for Los Blancos should they pull off the deal, but it remains to be seen if the former Barcelona forward is keen on a return to Spain or if PSG will want to lose their prized asset.