Barcelona have not given up hope of re-signing Neymar, according to sources in Spain.
A report in Mundo Deportivo suggests that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and director Eric Abidal are unlikely to sanction any big money moves in the January transfer window, with a view to signing the PSG forward next summer.
The Brazilian played for the Catalan club between 2013 and 2017, and he was denied a move back to the Nou Camp last summer by Les Parisiens’ Qatari owners.
Barcelona are ready to renew their interest in Neymar ahead of a potential summer move.
Neymar has scored eight goals in 10 matches for the Ligue 1 champions this term, but he remains determined to force a move away.
And the Santos academy graduate may trigger a clause in his contract to negotiate a return to Spain.
FIFA’s ‘Regulations on the Statute and Transfer of Players’ state that a player can request a move once the ‘Protected Period’ is fulfilled.
The Brazilian scored 105 goals in 186 games for the Catalan club between 2013 and 2017
The governing body defines this as ‘a period of three complete seasons or three years – whichever comes first – after the entry into force of a contract, if the contract was signed before that the professional player turned 28.’
The authority therefore recognises Neymar’s right to leave the club when he turns 28 next year, in exchange for compensation.
The report claims PSG still value Neymar at approximately £154million, although the star’s market price is depreciating as he grows older.
And if an agreement can be reached, Neymar would attempt to claim the salary for the fourth year of the contract which he breached when he left in 2017. Therefore he would request approximately £20m upon his return to Barcelona.
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