Neymar update: Barca offer €100m & Coutinho; he would ‘ruin’ Man Utd

Joe Williams
Neymar Paris Saint-Germain

Neymar has been one of the biggest transfer sagas so far this summer, with the winter transfer window’s red herring even being used as bait to land the Brazilian. We have a round-up of the latest offerings surrounding his potential departure from Paris Saint-Germain…

 

COUTINHO BAIT

Philippe Coutinho‘s future at Barcelona has been up in the air for a long time with reports claiming he wants out this summer. And now Sport give us their latest version of events at the Camp Nou but include his Brazil team-mate. The Spanish outlet inform us that Barca have made a €100m plus Coutinho offer for the PSG forward.

Barcelona have been talking to PSG via ‘intermediaries given the poor relationship with the French club’ with Pini Zahavi and Kia Joorabchian carrying the ‘weight of the negotiations directly with the presidents of the two clubs.’ The report adds that Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti were also on the table as possible tempters.

 

NOT AT MY CLUB

Former Arsenal player Stewart Robson, not Bryan Robson, as you were probably expecting on a Manchester United transfer story, has warned the Old Trafford club to steer clear of Neymar.

“I wouldn’t have Neymar anywhere near my club,” Robson said on ESPN FC (via the Daily Express).

“The problems you have as a coach, you’ve got to deal with his ego.

“He wants to be the best player in the world.

“I’ve seen him have some great games, I’ve also seen him in the World Cup with the playacting, doing everything you don’t want from a professional footballer.

“He ruins some of the other things that other players want to do.

“I wouldn’t have him near my club.”

Let’s face it, he ain’t going to Old Trafford anyway this summer…

However, Robson does fancy a Napoli centre-back at United, he added: “[Kalidou] Koulibaly is one of the best centre-backs in European football and would do a great job at Manchester United.”

 

TALK ABOUT BREAKING THE BANK

If it’s unlikely Barcelona can afford the full transfer fee, then what chance of him moving to Real Madrid? Well, Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (via The Week) reckons it would take ‘stratospheric limits’ of around €500m (£446m) to complete a deal for Neymar. Real’s reported opening proposal included Gareth Bale or James Rodriguez plus a cash sum of €130m (£115.9), which seems to fall way short of Mundo’s estimations.

 

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO, NEY…

Rivaldo wants you to go back to Barcelona, Neymar. You have no choice, the legend has spoken.

“I would love for Neymar to return,” Rivaldo told Goal. “It would be good for Barca and for Neymar. It was a mistake that he left. He doesn’t say that, nor does his father, but it was.

“He’s 27 and has a lot of years left in him yet. He could win another treble, it would be incredible.

“I don’t know what is going to happen but I’d prefer he was in Barcelona rather than in Madrid. If he goes to Madrid, that isn’t good for Barca. If he goes there, they’ll be really strong.”