Neymar was reportedly close to a sensational return to FC Barcelona, but the mega-transfer did not happen despite even Lionel Messi asking him to rejoin. The Brazilian’s father has now commented on the collapsed deal.
Early in the past window, the 27-year-old told Paris Saint-Germain he wanted to leave, and a move to Barca was said to be close to completion towards the end of the window.
However, in the end, the clubs were not able to agree on terms for the transfer, and Neymar will now have to spend at least another four months in Paris.
His father, Neymar Sr, who is also his agent, has now insisted that the fact that there is no release clause in his son’s PSG contract made the move very tricky.
“As an agent, you feel weak when there is no structure to allow you to leave and move,” he said at a conference, according to Footmercato.
“There was no release clause in the contract and this made things difficult.
“We fought to try to reach an agreement. We gave the best of ourselves for him.”
Neymar Sr also revealed that his son was asked by his former teammates to return, with Messi and Luis Suarez believed to be keen on reuniting with the skilful forward at the Camp Nou.
“The negotiations between clubs are not over,” he added.
“A Brazilian only wants to be where he can be happy. My son was very happy at Barcelona.
“When his friends asked if he wanted to return, that touched him.”
Neymar will now return to Paris after the international break and could make his first Ligue 1 appearance of the 2019/20 campaign against Lebo Mothiba’s Strasbourg on Saturday.
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Source – SoccerLaduma
