Report: Laporta asks Neymar to stall his contract negotiations with PSG

According to reports from Cuatro, club president Joan Laporta has requested Neymar to stall his contract talks with PSG. It is believed that Laporta is a huge fan of the Brazilian, and he wishes for him to make a return to the Camp Nou.

Neymar left the Catalan capital in brutal fashion four years ago. Tired of being in Messi’s shadow, the Brazilian winger wished to prove his metal elsewhere, in hopes of winning a Ballon d’Or. However, things haven’t gone all too smoothly for Neymar in PSG, since his transfer.

The Brazilian has struggled consistently for fitness, missing a fair bit of action each season out on injury. In addition, Paris have had no luck in the Champions League, coming close but finally bowing out in the final against Bayern last season. Currently, they are on a 1-2 deficit, having lost to Manchester City at home in the first leg of the semi-final.

Neymar has been linked with a move back to Barça countless times since he exited the club in 2017, with a boiling point being reached in 2019 when a transfer back seemed on the cards. Nevertheless, talks broke down, and the Champions League winner remained in the French capital.

Several reports have come out throughout this season regarding Neymar’s potential move back to Barça. While some reports have claimed that the Brazilian is keen to hear what the Blaugranas have to offer, Neymar himself made a statement claiming he is happy in Paris.

Nevertheless, Cuatro reports on a potential transfer for the Brazilian back to the Camp Nou. Apparently, Laporta is looking into the matter himself. The first step of the president’s master plan is to secure sponsorships worth over €500m in total, as per various reports recently.

Once this sponsorship money is obtained, the 58-year-old plans to offer an extravagant contract to Neymar, whose arrival is believed will convince Messi to stay at Barça.

Additionally, according to reports that claim Messi will be offered a new long-term contract structure, the Argentinian could be paid 50% of his current wage, with the rest of the amount coming in as Messi becomes an ambassador of the club after retirement.

It remains to be seen if Neymar is keen to stay on with the Parisiens or not, but one thing is certain; if PSG crash out of the Champions League once again, the Brazilian’s future could well and truly bring him back to the Nou Camp.