- Lionel Messi and Neymar share an ‘unhealthy relationship’
- Neymar and FC Barcelona are currently engaged in negotiations over his contract extention
- Rift could cause Neymar to leave the club
- Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG have shown firm interest in the player
According to Buzzsport, highly renowned journalist Eduardo Inda has stated that Messi has a problem with his compatriot Neymar’s ego and it has sparked a vibe of unhealthiness between the South American duo. This ill relation may pave the way for Neymar’s exit from the Camp Nou this summer. Ligue 1 giants Paris St. Germain are eagerly awaiting a response from the Spanish side and are willing to pay top-dollar to lure the 24-year-old away from the Catalan outfit.
Inda also had a word about the equation Neymar and manager Luis Enrique share. He stated:
“The relationship between Messi and Neymar is not good. Messi does not support the ego of Neymar, while the Brazilian does not see how he could win the Ballon d’Or alongside Messi.”
“Relations with Luis Enrique are even worse than Messi.”
Shock allegations from Spain suggest Messi and Neymar are at war https://t.co/9KABgQ1hZK pic.twitter.com/YS5sKiHeVD
— The Sun Football (@TheSunFootball) June 24, 2016
However, this hasn’t been the first time the player’s attitude has come under scrutiny. Veteran midfielder Xavi, who shared the same dressing room with Neymar for a year, berated the Brazilian’s approach towards the game after the Champions League final triumph in 2015. According to ESPN, the Spaniard said:
“He [Neymar] should seriously think about how he acts. I understand people’s attitudes to his [rainbow flick] against Athletic Bilbao in the Copa [del Rey]. Some saw it as a lack of respect.”
“Those things in Brazil are accepted, but not so much in Spain.”
Athletic Bilbao striker Artur Aduriz too, wasn’t too pleased with his theatrics on the field of play. During a match between Bilbao and Neymar’s Barcelona, the two players nearly came to blows after a heated incident. After the game, Aduriz stated (via Daily Mail):
‘Neymar is a global star but at times I wish he had a different attitude.”
Santi Gimenez of AS Sport had also criticized Neymar’s tendency to challenge Luis Enrique every time he was substituted. The incident was evident during Barcelona’s league encounter with Sevilla on the 11th of August 2015. However, Enrqiue refuted away from the topic and stated that he was only focused on the game.
Which clubs can afford to prise Neymar away from Barcelona?
As mentioned earlier, French side PSG remain favourites to land the Barcelona attacker. The news of a possible rift has done little to overturn that claim, as Neymar is intent on ending his association with the La Liga club.
Daily Mail also understands that PSG are ready to trigger the Brazilian’s release clause worth £153 million and would also offer the player a lucrative £11.5 million-per-year deal. Wagner Ribero, the agent of the 24-year-old said, “The prospect of living in a city like Paris and to play for a club like PSG – that’s also a dream for every player.”
Premier League side Manchester United are under stood to be next in line for snapping up Neymar, should he leave the Catalan Giants. The Red Devils had something lacking for them in the final third this past season and Neymar could be the player to address the problem on hand.
Also, if Neymar is to prove that he is better than Messi, rather than signing for a Ligue 1 club that decimates its opponents week after week, he would prefer to join a club that is placed in one of the most competitive leagues the continent has to offer. His growth as a player in England, could be margins more than that in France.
A third option for Neymar is to stay in Spain and make a move to Barca’s rivals Real Madrid. A club of Real’s stature and magnitude would be more than happy to welcome the Brazilian. He is believed to share a good understanding with Cristiano Ronaldo and could quickly adapt into the Los Blancos’ setup. The presence of Brazilians like Marcelo, Casemiro and Danilo may convince Neymar to make the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu
