Barcelona’s Presidential Candidate Makes An Important Revelation About Neymar’s Future

FC Barcelona’s presidential candidate Emili Rousaud’s latest statement has made it clear that Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Neymar won’t be returning to Camp Nou any time soon.

Barcelona cannot afford Neymar’s transfer fee before the Brazilian’s PSG contract expires in 2022, as reported by Spanish publication Diario AS. Neymar, who moved from Barcelona to PSG in a world-record transfer of $266 million (£198 million) in 2017, has not hesitated to admit that he wants to return to Barcelona. However, the La Liga side has failed to strike a deal with PSG for Neymar over the last couple of years.

"We have been in contact with Neymar's people and he made comments which someone interpreted as meaning he wants Messi to join him in Paris - what Neymar was saying is that he wants to come back to Barcelona - as he said in the summer of 2019. Right now, we cannot pay his transfer fee so it will be at the end of his contract," Rousaud told Diario AS.

After Josep Maria Bartomeu's resignation in October, the presidential elections at Barcelona are set to take place in January and Rousaud is one of the candidates

Messi, who wanted to part ways with Barcelona in the recent summer window, has been linked with a number of elite European clubs, including PSG. The rumors strengthened after Neymar’s recent interview, where the PSG playmaker said he wanted to reunite with Messi next season.

"What I want the most is to enjoy playing with him again. He can play in my role, it wouldn't be a problem for me! For sure, next year we have to do it," Neymar said after scoring a brace in PSG’s latest 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Champions League.

During Neymar’s stint at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, he struck a great bond with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez on the field as the trio formed one of the formidable front lines in Europe. They helped Barcelona win La Liga twice and the Champions League once, along with three Copa del Rey titles.

Meanwhile, in an earlier interview, Rousaud had said Messi would be asked to leave Barcelona next summer if he refused to accept a pay cut amid the club’s financial crisis infused by the coronavirus pandemic.