Neymar has revealed that he tried everything possible to secure a return to Barcelona after a difficult couple of seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking on the Fenomenos Podcast (h/t GOAL), PSG and Brazil superstar Neymar has made a startling revelation that he tried to secure a return to Barcelona in 2019, but a move could not be worked out.
Neymar was widely regarded as one of the best young players in the game when he made the switch to Barcelona from Santos FC in 2013. The Brazilian sensation quickly became a fan favourite at Camp Nou and formed one of the deadliest attacking trios in the recent history of the game, along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Neymar scored 105 goals and set up 76 more for Barcelona, in the process winning two La Liga titles, one UEFA Champions League and three Copa del Rey trophies before securing a shock move to PSG in the summer of 2017. It was a move that changed the entire landscape of the transfer market as Les Parisiens shelled out a world record sum of €222 million to sign the Brazilian.
Neymar made a good start to life in the French capital and enjoyed a couple of fruitful years on the pitch even though injury issues blighted him. However, things went sour due to his multiple disciplinary breaches and fans turned on the 30-year-old attacker after an incident in 2019 when he appeared to punch a spectator during a French Cup clash.
Neymar 'tried everything' to return to Barcelona ? pic.twitter.com/wL2bVl1D8B
— GOAL (@goal) February 23, 2022
A few months later, links to Barcelona severely intensified during the summer, and Neymar has now revealed that serious efforts were made for him to move back to Camp Nou, but it was not to be. “I tried to return to Barca. We tried everything, but it wasn’t possible,” he confirmed on the podcast.
Neymar, however, has since managed to work his way back into the good books of the PSG faithful and is happy at the club. More so after he was reunited with former Barcelona teammate and close friend Lionel Messi, who joined the Parisian giants on a free transfer last year. “I am very happy Leo had the opportunity to come here. He is my friend and we get on very well,” Neymar said.
Neymar has made 132 appearances for PSG since joining in 2017. He has contributed with 91 goals and 56 assists and has won several domestic trophies. But the Champions League success continues to elude him and Les Parisiens, although Messi is confident that the team can cross that barrier this season.
