Real Madrid Could Use Neymar’s Move To Nou Camp To Hurt Messi’s Barcelona: Report

Neymar, who has won the last three Ligue 1 titles with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) since his debut for them in 2017, is more or less understood to be leaving the French side in the coming months.

Earlier reports stated Neymar has informed his PSG’s close teammates about his desire to return to Spain. The move is understood to be held up only because of the financial impact created by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a report in Diaro GOL, if Neymar does leave PSG, it is believed his front-line partner Kylian Mbappe will also ask PSG to release him and that’s when Real Madrid’s massive offer of $359 million will help PSG to revive their side following the departure of their two best players.

Mbappe, whose contract at PSG is due to expire in June 2022, could look for a change in team and Real Madrid are being attentive in this case as they are aiming to revamp their side, which has struggled post the departure of Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018.

With Messi in his twilight years at Barcelona, Real Madrid are aware that their rivals are looking to bring a player, who is able enough to fill in Messi’s shoes at Nou Camp. Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho was regarded as an ideal replacement but it is believed that he is heading to Manchester United next. That leaves Mbappe as the only option, who can play as a striker and as a right-winger and boosts the capability to score 30 goals a season consistently.

Barcelona, who have not won the Champions League since 2015, are also struggling in La Liga this season, a trophy they have won the last two campaigns. Real Madrid recently pipped Barcelona in the La Liga table and now they are four points clear in the top ahead of Messi and Co.

The report has also suggested even though the soccer clubs have been hit financially by the coronavirus pandemic, the La Liga leaders are understood to be doing everything to land Mbappe at Santiago Bernabeu, which is being regarded as the final blow to Barcelona.

While the fee would be fragmented into four payments that would be made in two seasons, Real Madrid would put Mbappé among the three highest-paid players in the world with $33 million per season and that could put Mbappe on par with one of the richest players in the world, Ronaldo. Mbappe’s wages could further increase depending on his performances at an individual level and the collective titles that Real Madrid will achieve.