Rumours linking Neymar to Barcelona are doing the rounds again after the Brazilian failed to give a clear answer when he was asked about a possible return following Brazil’s friendly against Uruguay on Monday.
Barcelona’s sporting director Pep Segura further fuelled these rumours when he mentioned that the history between the player and the club won’t hinder any possibilities of the winger plying his trade at the Camp Nou again.
Would these move benefit both the parties, or at least one of them? We take a look.
Familiar face
Neymar’s move to Barcelona promises immediate results. The Brazilian is a familiar face at the Camp Nou and is completely aware of the style of play at the Catalan club. The 26 year-old won’t waste much time ‘settling in’ like any new signing would. The PGS star has developed a great rapport with the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez from his time with the La Liga champions and it won’t be long before the deadly trio creates havoc again.
A familiar trio
With Ousmane Dembele struggling to find form and Malcom yet to win manager Ernesto Valverde over, Neymar will pounce on the vacant left-wing position and assert himself as the best option by a good margin.
Should he rejoin Barcelona, Neymar would have the luxury of playing behind national teammate Philippe Coutinho. In fact, Neymar has already formed a solid partnership with the former Liverpool player and has a great foundation that he can build on.
Alba wears the frown
The last few months of Luis Enrique’s tenure were nightmarish for Jordi Alba. Enrique’s system revolved around the frontline of Messi, Suarez and Neymar. Careless with the ball and no attempt to recover it after being dispossessed, Neymar’s style of play added to Alba’s defensive burden. The left-back was always denied the space upfront and could not bring out his A game due to the attacking restrictions.
Jordi Alba.
The 29-year-old has started the season in scintillating fashion and has also reclaimed his spot in the Spain squad. The attacking liberty he has received due to the presence of a winger who prefers to occupy the half-space rather than stretching the play has allowed him to re-establish himself as one of the best left-backs in the world.
Although it’s not clear if Neymar will be undertaking a similar role under Valverde, it’s safe to state that the current system is best left undisturbed.
Future prospects go for a toss
If seen as a long term replacement, Neymar will undoubtedly destroy any future that Malcom and Dembele might have at the club. That the players are yet to display any signs of brilliance that can justify Barcelona’s faith in them is true. But wiping out any possibilities of a successful career at their dream club would not be the best idea.
“A kingdom cannot be ruled by two kings.” There’s enough evidence in the past in support of this statement made by the late Johan Cruyff. Neymar switched to the Parisian side so that he can play the role of a protagonist, which would not have been possible at Barcelona as long as Messi was at the club.
Ousmane Dembele
The Argentine will always be the focal point and Coutinho has now made a case to pick up the mantle after Messi’s inevitable departure. Reintroducing Neymar would again disrupt the hierarchy and cause all sort of problems that the Catalan club would prefer to avoid.
Verdict
Barcelona can provide a brilliant platform for Neymar to shine again and enable him to re-establish himself as one of the best players in the world. The club could also reap rewards almost immediately but the decision might bite the club in the long run.
The Brazilian is more of a luxury signing for the five team Champions League winners and the negatives clearly outweigh the positives. Barcelona are better off letting this one pass.
