Author: Amrit Santlani
There are reports that Paris Saint-Germain intend to sell the Brazilian this summer. However, the League 1 leaders fear that potential buyers will be deterred by an increased susceptibility to injury.
Incidentally, the Parisians will probably be without Lionel Messi next season. The Argentine’s two-year contract is due to expire, meaning that the 35-year-old will be granted free agent status. Barcelona’s vice-president confirmed that negotiations are underway with the former player.
Neymar’s situation is different. Last summer, the 31-year-old signed a new four-year contract with PSG until 2025.
Le Parisien (via Football 365) reported that Luis Campos and Antero Henrique, the two PSG bosses in charge of transfers, are looking for a buyer for Neymar. But the Brazilian star earns an astronomical salary of 26 million euros a year. Only a few clubs in the world can afford such a sum. So it wouldn’t be surprising if the player had to serve another two years on his PSG contract.
The team’s management is also worried that Neymar won’t be able to pass the medical examination at his new club, considering how many times he has suffered leg injuries over the years. If the star’s transfer fails because of this, PSG will have to continue paying him an astronomical amount from the budget.
Neymar’s transfer is not PSG’s only concern, as Messi also seems to want to part company with the club. At the beginning of January, a contract extension for the Argentinian star seemed a mere formality, and it was reported that the club had reached a verbal agreement with the former Barcelona striker. Things have taken an unexpected turn since then, with the 35-year-old likely to leave the Parc des Princes.
According to MARCA, Messi announced some terms regarding PSG’s sporting project, and that’s when the uncertainty began. The club allegedly delayed a response to the Ballon d’Or winner, leading to further complications.