Louis van Gaal has warned Barcelona to think twice before re-signing Neymar.
Neymar starred for Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, scoring 105 goals to help the club win two La Liga titles and a Champions League but move to Paris Saint-Germain in the biggest transfer deal in football history.
Neymar going back to Barca? Five key things to know…
- Neymar starred for Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, scoring 105 goals in 186 as part of the famous ‘MSN’ trident.
- Left the Catalan club to join French side PSG in 2017 for a world-record €222 million.
- Has scored 41 goals in 46 games for PSG so far, winning four domestic trophies.
- But there have been constant reports of Neymar’s discontent in Paris and last week Barcelona’s sporting director refused to rule out a return.
- Louis van Gaal has since warned the club about re-signing him, calling him ‘too individualistic’.
The 26-year-old has expressed recent desires to return to Spain, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly interested in his signature.
However, Van Gaal, who won two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey in two separate spells with the Catalan club, is unsure whether the Brazilian has developed into enough of a team player for Barcelona.
“I think it’s not good for Barcelona, but that’s my opinion,” the Dutchman told La Porteria de Beteve.
“Neymar is still a young player who can continue to develop. He must first learn to be a team player.
“Neymar is too individualistic, which is why I think Barcelona should be vigilant before deciding to get him back.”
Can Neymar become the team player Barcelona need?
Neymar originally left PSG to escape the shadow of Lionel Messi and attempt to win the Ballon d’Or, a feat he is still yet to achieve. Indeed, he did not even make the 10-man shortlist for Fifa’s Best Men’s Player award in 2018, which was ultimately awarded to Luka Modric.
If Neymar were to return to Barcelona and reunite with the ‘MSN’ forward line, the 96-time Brazil international would have to reassume a backseat role, providing for Suarez and Messi just as much as he scores goals himself.
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Contrary to Van Gaal’s comments, though, it would appear that Neymar has developed into more of a provider than in his Barcelona days.
In all competitions, Neymar has provided three assists for his teammates, more than the likes of Sadio Mane (1) and Gareth Bale (2), while his 19 chances created from open play is better than the aforementioned players, as well as Paulo Dybala’s 12.
Lionel Messi is still ahead of Neymar in all of these departments, but that is hardly something to be ashamed of when you consider the Argentine’s individual accolades as a player.
The post Louis van Gaal: Barcelona should think twice before re-signing Neymar appeared first on Squawka News.
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