In an interview with Globoesporte, the new sporting director of Barcelona, Deco (even though he will not take up his position until the end of the transfer window), revealed the reasons behind the failure of Neymar’s transfer to Barcelona this summer.
Placed on the transfer market by PSG this summer, Neymar eventually ended up in Saudi Arabia. The Brazilian forward signed a two-year contract with Al Hilal, which spared no expense to satisfy the whims of the flamboyant international. But more than the extravagance of the financially limitless royal club, it’s the transfer itself that surprises.
After finally agreeing to leave PSG after several years of refusal, Neymar had given priority to a return to Barcelona. The deal seemed to be on track, at least according to the Iberian press, which claimed that the former Santos player was going to sign. However, the dream of the prodigal son’s return to Spain would never become a reality. So, what happened for the almost finalized deal to fall apart?
The new sporting director of Barcelona, Deco, shed light on this murky affair. In an interview with Globoesporte, the former blaugrana attacking midfielder (2004-2008) indicated that Neymar’s transfer was “impossible” to accomplish due to the club’s financial situation.
“Everyone knows that at this moment, unfortunately, with our economic situation, it was impossible to make such a signing. We needed an agreement with PSG or a deal with the Saudis, which didn’t happen. It had to be economically viable for us, but it was never a solution due to the club’s economic situation,” he told the Brazilian press.
It’s no secret that FC Barcelona has faced financial problems in recent years. Before making new acquisitions, the club must trim its squad, an unavoidable constraint to improve its economic situation.
