The Brazilian could leave Parc des Princes at the end of the season, as a slew of injuries and off-field problems have jeopardised his starting spot
Two weeks ago, Neymar was stretchered off in PSG's Ligue 1 clash with Lille. It was his fourth ankle injury in four years. And it felt like the end of the road in a PSG shirt.
The forward is a brilliant footballer, a world-class showman, and one of the best to ever play the game. But, for PSG, he's also something of a liability.
At this point, he doesn't make his team markedly better, and his off-field antics are becoming a massive distraction for the Ligue 1 leaders.
Everything points towards a summer exit. The player needs a fresh start, and the club are perhaps better off without him.
But it's not easy to get rid of a footballer of his profile.
At 31, Neymar is coming towards the end of his prime, has two years left on his contract, and makes a whopping €1 million(£960,000/$1.1 million) per week.
He doesn't have a release clause, either, meaning PSG could effectively set their asking price. And it's unlikely that they'll let such a prized asset leave on a cut-rate deal.
Still, under the right circumstances, anything is possible. And whichever team brings him in are still getting a lot.
Neymar's talent is otherworldly, and he's also a proven winner. He would also be a big money-maker off the pitch, with shirt sales and gameday revenue sure to spike by virtue of his signing.
But there are, of course, some problems.
Neymar is, as already mentioned, injury-prone, occasionally problematic in the changing room, and notably egotistical. Getting him to buy into any system would be immensely difficult.
That doesn't mean some major clubs won't be inclined to try, though.
So, who might bring him in, and why? GOAL ranks Neymar's potential destinations…
Getty Images12Real Madrid
Neymar played for Barca, pretty much a non-starter for any player who might be linked with Real Madrid.
Besides, Los Blancos have their attention on the potential signature of Jude Bellingham — and might still be in the hunt for Kylian Mbappe.
So, Neymar to Madrid, then? In a word: never.
AdvertisementGetty11Liverpool
Liverpool's summer transfer window will likely be geared towards the pursuit of Bellingham.
It is no secret that the reds are at the forefront of the hunt for the Dortmund star — and are guaranteed to have to cough up a massive sum to bring the player in. Even if their Bellingham pursuit fails, Liverpool will look elsewhere for midfielders, or even shoot for centre-back depth before even considering Neymar.
And is it possible to think of a player less suited to manager Jurgen Klopp? The Reds have certainly changed down from the counter-pressing, incessant-intensity approach of a few years ago, but the manager has built a team that requires effort and fluidity — neither of which Neymar is known for.
This is not to say Liverpool cannot be an expressive team, but they prefer to be a little more direct than the kind of side in which the Brazilian could thrive.
And as fun as it would be to see Neymar linking up with the likes of Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah, he's a poor fit at best.
Getty Images10Juventus
Wouldn't this be fun? Neymar, dribbling around, getting clattered, then dribbling around some more. Cynical opposition coaches like Jose Mourinho instructing their players to do everything to get the centre-forward sent off. Juventus manager Max Allegri, notoriously averse to adventurous tactics, watching as the Neymar chaos unfolds.
There is an argument that Neymar would make Juventus quite a good team. With Paul Pogba and Adrien Rabiot holding down the midfield (if they can hold on to the latter), Federico Chiesa and Angel Di Maria on either wing, and Dusan Vlahovic up front, Neymar would have a balanced platform in which to operate.
That Juventus attack will certainly be in the mix for a Champions League spot, with the Brazilian giving the Old Lady just enough of a boost to secure European football.
However, enticing as the prospect is, such a move is highly unlikely. Juventus, who have already been hit with a 15-point penalty this season, are under investigation for further financial violations, leaving their future uncertain. It turns out that one has to pay quite a bit of money to actually buy players at market value…
(C)Getty Images9Arsenal
Arsenal's reasons for signing Neymar are largely similar to Liverpool's. Manager Mikel Arteta demands total obedience, a strict adherence to his system, and a certain kind of no-nonsense mentality. It's why Arsenal are on track to win their first league title since 2004.
Besides, Arteta is content with his current left wing option in Gabriel Martinelli. The 21-year-old has been fantastic this season, and his blend of pace and trickery is ideal for an Arsenal side that thrives on the break. Furthermore, Martinelli recently penned a long-term deal that will keep him at the Emirates until 2027.
Arsenal have also shown a preference for signing players 25 and under, only breaking their policy for Leandro Trossard and midfield backup Jorginho. They will not, in all likelihood, splash £100m on a 31-year-old to play in a position in which they are already well-stocked.
The only reason Arsenal are more likely to buy Neymar is they don't have an obvious summer target that will exhaust their transfer budget.
