All the talk around the Parc des Princes this summer has been centered around the futures of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. 

Paris Saint-Germain want to cash in on Mbappe while they’ve got a chance to avoid losing him on a free, while Messi’s two-year stint at the club came to an end as he joined Inter Miami.

The French giants were then informed by Neymar that he wants to leave the club this summer. Reports have also indicated that PSG have told the Brazilian that he is not part of their plans and could look for a new club. 

If he were to leave, it would bring an end to what, given the £200m price tag, could be regarded as the biggest failed transfer in history.

His record of 118 goals in 173 appearances is nothing to be sneered at. But given the high expectations placed on Neymar’s shoulders after he became the world’s most expensive player – a record he still holds to this day – it’s safe to say he has not delivered what the club brought him for.

 

Neymar has told Paris Saint-Germain that he wants to leave the club after six years in Paris 

 

The Brazilian forward’s time at PSG has been plagued by injuries, and a failure to help deliver the club a Champions League trophy is a big factor as to why the move hasn’t worked out 

 

The sight of him sitting in the stands during PSG has become all too apparent while at PSG

The highs are obvious enough; 13 domestic trophies and genuine dominance within the borders of France. However, that was to be expected. What he was really brought in to help deliver, was the Champions League.

A man who was regarded to be the natural successor to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a great career and played a big part in PSG’s domestic success. Though for a player of his ability, much more had been hoped for him.

Not all of it was down to his own doing. Injury issues have plagued him over his six seasons at the Parc des Princes, making no more than 22 appearances in a solitary campaign – meaning that he regularly missed at least 16 games per season.

When it came to the knockout phases of the Champions League he missed six games, including both legs in a defeat to Manchester United in 2019, and the second leg of defeats to Real Madrid in 2018 and Bayern Munich in 2023. 

However, his performances when it came to the business end of the Champions League also appeared to be lacklustre when it really mattered. In 14 knockout games he did make six assists but only scored twice.  

It was after their Champions League exit to Bayern Munich last season when things really turned toxic at PSG.

Fans demanded that Messi leave, gathered at the club’s headquarters asking for the board to resign and most shockingly showed up to Neymar’s home, chanting for him to ‘get lost’.

The club condemned the ‘shameful behaviour’ of its supporters and Neymar had since said that he would be at PSG ‘with or without love’ this season after admitting there’s not too much affection between the supporters and himself. 

 

His potential exit adds a further headache for PSG who have lost Lionel Messi to Inter Miami and have a troublesome relationship with Kylian Mbappe who wants to join Real Madrid

But the incident is said to have influenced Neymar’s decision to push for a move away from the club, as he reportedly feels ‘exposed’ in Paris in a way that he never felt at Barcelona.

Neymar’s desire to leave the club raises the question of what his future holds. What is probably his ideal scenario, is a return to Barcelona.

However, the Catalan giants are again struggling to register their new signings this summer. Ilkay Gundogan is reportedly on wages of £8.6m per season after joining from Manchester City.

Neymar is currently on an exorbitant salary of £22m net per season, and even if he would likely take a pay cut from that amount, if they are unable to register Gundogan then they would have a massive challenge to do so with Neymar.  

The finance it would take to sign Neymar would be extortionate, as PSG would likely want to attract a big price tag for their star whose contract expires in 2025 – though even that could be over a 50 per cent drop on the £200m they spent in 2017. 

Given how this summer has gone, a likely answer to where he could go is Saudi Arabia.

If anywhere in the world is able to attract close to or even more than his current salary, then it is in the country which have paid huge amounts for the likes of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and more.  

The one club in the Premier League who might have considered a move is Chelsea.    

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino previously got the best out of Neymar during their time together at PSG before the Argentinian coach was fired, and would be a familiar face to the star.

 

Nemar’s options should he leave the French giants appeared to be limited due to his wages

 

Saudi Arabia could be an option with players including Cristiano Ronaldo earning big salaries

The Blues have been linked with a move for the Brazilian, however, it is understood they are in the middle of restructuring player salaries and want to bring in a lower ceiling for top earners. 

Sweeping changes under co-owner Todd Boehly means a tiered wage initiative is being explored and that could mean a transfer for the Brazilian flair forward is unlikely – despite the American showing his love for spending money in his first season at the club with a massive £600m spend. 

Clubs including Man City, Manchester United and Liverpool are unlikely to make a move, while Spanish giants Real Madrid appear to have their eyes set on Mbappe next year. 

Bayern Munich are a club that is looking for a forward, with Harry Kane their main priority.

Neymar could potentially be a player who interests them if they are unable to sign the English international. Though again, their issue signing Kane appears to be meeting Daniel Levy’s demands for the forward – despite him only having one year left on his deal.

A move for Neymar could prove just as difficult for the Bundesliga giants.

Another potential destination would be the MLS, where former Barcelona team-mates Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are now playing.

Moving to the United States would surely be an attractive proposition for the Brazilian, and one club who have reportedly been interested are New York City FC.  

So a move to Saudi Arabia or the MLS seems the more likely options for the 31-year-old. But there is also a distinct possibility that he has to stay in Paris. 

 

A move to the MLS appears the next likely move with former Barcelona team-mates including Lionel Messi making a move to the United States 

 

 

PSG fans made their frustrations towards Neymar clear as they gathered outside his home 

New PSG manager Luis Enrique and Neymar have previously worked together during the coach’s tenure at Barcelona, which saw the Blaugrana win a historic treble of LaLiga, Copa del Rey and Champions League, in the Spaniard’s debut season. 

Though Enrique reportedly told Neymar he is not part of their plans, they will be aware that it could be difficult to sell him this summer. 

If they can’t get rid of him, then keeping an experienced attacker in Neymar could be beneficial to their trophy hopes rather than conducting a total revamp at once. 

But given the breakdown in relationship between fans and the player, as well as Neymar and his love for PSG, then it’s no surprise that club don’t see him part of their future project.