Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, best known simply as Neymar, is one of the world’s most recognized and most celebrated footballers. He made a name for himself with Spanish titans Barcelona, where he won over millions of fans with his creative flair and attacking prowess.
As with most top footballers playing outside of England, Neymar has long been subject to much speculation regarding a potential move to the Premier League. Could we see this Brazilian star bring his magic to the world’s most popular and most lucrative domestic leagues? Let’s find out.
Success at Barcelona
Neymar joined Barcelona from Brazilian side Santos in May 2013, in a deal eventually revealed to have been valued at €71.5 million. He was an immediate success at the Spanish club, scoring in an El Classico victory over Real Madrid in September, and bagging his first hattrick in a 6-1 rout of Celtic in the Champions League.
Neymar stayed with Barcelona until 2017, during which time he won three titles in La Liga, three Copa del Reys, one Supercopa de Espana, one Champions League, and one Club World Cup trophy.
Where is Neymar Now?
In 2017, Neymar’s lawyers paid a sum of €222 million to Barcelona, triggering the player’s release clause. He then joined French side Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal, where he was to become part of a frightening attacking trio that included Kylian Mbappé and Edison Cavani.
In his time at PSG, Neymar has won four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France, two Coupe de la Ligue, and three Trophee des Champions. He has since gone on to sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2025.
Could Neymar be Heading to the Premier League?
Neymar has excelled at PSG, scoring 118 goals and assisting in 77. This is why many were surprised to learn that, according to reports, Neymar has been closely linked with a move to the Premier League, with PSG apparently keen to offload the Brazilian scoring sensation.
PSG’s recent run of poor form could be a reason behind this, with management keen to refresh the squad before rot can truly sink in. PSG have lost three of their past four games, with the only victory requiring a moment of Messi magic to overcome LOSC.
In their desperation to turn things around, PSG could well look to move Neymar on and bring in some new faces. If reports are to be believed, talks have been held with a number of Premier League clubs about a potential move for the Brazilian, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle all said to be interested.
It’s no secret that the Premier League is awash with cash, so if the holder of the highest-ever transfer fee were to be going anywhere, it would more than likely be England. Which club is most likely to claim Neymar’s signature? Could he be heading for Anfield to rescue Liverpool’s calamitous season? Or could he be destined for Manchester City to forge a formidable partnership with Erling Haaland? Anything can happen in football, so we’re just going to have to wait and find out.
