It never really stops but the speculation over the future of one of Ligue 1’s biggest stars has been in the news again this week, and the question for Neymar is…’will he stay or will he go?’
The enigmatic Brazilian is one of the France league’s most watched players and he’s provided plenty of Ligue 1 2023 highlights again, both on and off the field. Here at SBOTOP we’ve been watching the battle raging between Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar and Kylian Mbappe all season, as the France star has not been slow to voice his criticisms of his experienced team-mate.
They are still performing on the pitch though, and the latest Ligue 1 2023 betting odds have PSG nailed on the win yet another title, and with these two and Lionel Messi in the front three that’s exactly what we’d expect. World Cup winner Messi is big mates with Neymar and he has spent much of the campaign medPoker event in Parisiating between him and Mbappe whenever a row erupts.
Last week Mbappe seemed to criticise Neymar for going to a Poker event in Paris but he later denied this, saying his public message to his team-mates to eat and sleep well was not aimed at Neymar, but the timing was highly suspicious. Anyhow, the feud seems destined to rumble on and it’s difficult to see the Brazil star seeing out the rest of his contract at the Parc des Princes which expires in 2027.
He is in fine form, scoring 18 goals and making 17 assists in all competitions and there is a school of thought which suggests he might be happy to stay in Paris, but Neymar’s situation at the moneybags club has alerted some of the top clubs in Europe, and particularly England.
So where might Neymar end up next season?
Chelsea
Todd Boehly has spent an eye watering £542m in his eight months as owner of Chelsea, the latest addition being Argentine World Cup sensation Enzo Fernandez when the 22 year old signed for a cool £107m. The Stamford Bridge club could afford Neymar’s wages though it’s a little difficult to see where he would fit into a squad with a surplus of Number 10s, including Fernandez, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz to name but three.
Manchester City
The Sky Blues have dominated English football during the past ten years, winning four of the last five Premier League titles and they are in a good position to win again this year. Pep Guardiola has departed from his traditional fluid pass and move strategy by signing a big center forward in Erling Braut Haaland and time will tell whether that was a successful move, though the Norwegian has been prolific in his first season. Neymar is more in the mould of City’s smaller, quick-footed artists and he might be a good fit at the Etihad.
Real Madrid
He has been in Paris since his 2017 switch from Barcelona and there would be quite some unrest in Catalonia if Neymar rocked up at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Los Blancos are said to be monitoring the situation. Carlo Ancelotti has a good number of quick young and skilful forwards, such as Vinicius Junior, but he will lose some experience when Karim Benzema takes a step back and Neymar would bring more quality to the club.
Newcastle United
There is no doubt that the Magpies could afford to recruit Neymar but they will need to finish in the Premier League top four to have any chance of signing him next summer. Eddie Howe’s team is currently fifth, but with a game in hand. He has put together a brilliant defensive unit but needs more spark and guile up front.
Miguel Almiron is having a superb campaign but Newcastle will need to upgrade soon if they are to become the superpower their Saudi owners are aiming for.
Paris Saint-Germain
And then Neymar might just stay put. Recent reports are emerging in France to suggest the Brazilian would be happy to remain at the Parc des Princes though it may not be his choice, and head coach Christophe Galtier has admitted he can’t guarantee the player will stay.
Things do change of course, but it is difficult to see how Neymar and Mbappe can put their countless squabbles behind them. Clearly the two megastars don’t get on and it doesn’t help that PSG look likely to exit the Champions League soon after losing their home Round of 16 leg against FC Bayern.
Mbappe was on his way to Real Madrid last summer but did a last minute U-turn. If he had gone to Spain then maybe Neymar would be more likely to stay in Paris.
One thing is for sure though. There are plenty more episodes of this soap opera to run.
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