Author: Monojit Mandal
Xavi Hernandez, the revered former player and current manager of the club, is said to have expressed reservations about signing Brazilian star Neymar Jr, expressing concern that his arrival could disturb the harmony of the team’s dressing room.
According to recent rumors, Neymar, who looks set to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, six years after his record 222 million euro transfer from Barcelona, has received a hefty contract offer from Al-Hilal, totaling an impressive 100 million euros. In addition, it is believed that Neymar was willing to return to the Blaugrana club for a high annual salary of 15 million euros.
According to Marca, a reliable source in soccer, Xavi isn’t completely convinced by the idea of Neymar returning to Barcelona, as the club hasn’t had a player of his caliber since Lionel Messi’s departure in 2021.
A major source of concern is Neymar’s propensity to attract huge media attention wherever he goes, in addition to his well-documented injury problems during his time at PSG. Because of these qualities, as well as his high wage demands, he is a potentially dangerous acquisition for any team.
It’s interesting to note that Xavi had first-hand experience of Neymar in the dressing room during their time together at Barcelona. Over the course of two seasons, the combination managed to score five goals together in 69 games in various tournaments, eventually winning the famous European treble in the 2014-15 season.
Neymar rose to fame quickly and spectacularly, winning the Copa Libertadores in 2011 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2012 while playing for Santos. In 2013, he was voted South American Footballer of the Year for his skills.
After a record transfer of 57.1 million euros to Barcelona in 2013, Neymar won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League in his first season. In 2015, he was crowned FIFA World Player of the Year for his efforts.
With a transfer price of 222 million euros, Neymar became the world’s most expensive footballer when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. During his time at PSG, he was instrumental in the club’s triumphs, which included four Ligue 1 titles, three French Cup titles and two League Cup titles.