Do we want Neymar to go to PSG?

[Kapardin]

Well, if it enables Coutinho to move to Barca, sure. But it will hurt us in the long run indirectly.

Assuming we finally get out of this tedious "transition" vortex we are currently in, our aim should be to win the CL. If PSG get Neymar, it raises the profile of the club and could become attractive for other top players. Up till now, they had some difficulty attracting a few players, but the presence of top talent and a strong CL showing could change all that. In which case, it is possible PSG could become more attractive than United to some (not all) players even if we offer the same things.

But feck it. Currently we have Jesse Lingard and 6th place, so maybe I am overthinking it.

 

[kouroux]

I really want it because it would give him the Ligue 1 a new dimension, more viewers and more deserved attention. I hate everything about PSG, their owners and most of their supporters but for the league, I truly hope he signs for them. It'd be nice to have a true megastar in the ligue now that Zlatan has left. At the same time I wanna see PSG fail in the CL with Neymar playing for them so that they become a big laughing stock again (like when they lost against Barca in the return leg).

Well, if it enables Coutinho to move to Barca, sure. But it will hurt us in the long run indirectly.

Assuming we finally get out of this tedious "transition" vortex we are currently in, our aim should be to win the CL. If PSG get Neymar, it raises the profile of the club and could become attractive for other top players. Up till now, they had some difficulty attracting a few players, but the presence of top talent and a strong CL showing could change all that. In which case, it is possible PSG could become more attractive than United to some (not all) players even if we offer the same things.

But feck it. Currently we have Jesse Lingard and 6th place, so maybe I am overthinking it.

I think they already are more attractive because they are ready to pay ridiculous sums for transfers and wages.

For me no.. because it would be the first time where a true 'Galactico' has left a top elite calibre club with history to go to a plastic club. It is not a good sign for the future of the game. I don't think it's a good move for Neymar either.. I genuinely think if United were playing a more enterprising style of football and say we had Pep as manager... He'd come here and be awesome, it would bring out the best in him.

He will shine at PSG no doubt, but I think he'll realise he's made a mistake when he is'n't playing week in week out at the Nou Camp.

As much as I hate PSG, they're not a plastic club. Obviously with the Qatari money they are something else but they still were a big french club with a lot of great players in their history.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

I really want this transfer nonsense to end. We need to get back to real Football. It seems like it has been the same few transfer stories for over a week.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

No. He belongs in the best league.

 

[clarkydaz]

yes, as anything else than champions league trophies will be failure and embarrassment for PSG

 

[Devil81]

Couldn't care either way.

What I will say about Neymar is I've always felt his more of an individual than a team player. Barcelona might find a better balance with another player in that position.

 

[izec]

Yes, only to shut up the people saying 'he wouldnt go there anyway' or 'what does PSG offer him'

I am just happy to see the cnut gone, his transfer news every transfer window will finally be over and people would realise with money, you can buy most players.

 

[nutmegrush]

I'd rather we bought Neymar

 

[JPRouve]

Yes, only to shut up the people saying 'he wouldnt go there anyway' or 'what does PSG offer him'

I am just happy to see the cnut gone, his transfer news every transfer window will finally be over and people would realise with money, you can buy most players.

That's pretty much the transfer window. Now elite players are extremely difficult to purchase because money is generally not interesting for their clubs.

 

[endless_wheelies]

If Coutinho goes it will be entirely on Liverpool's terms. They just got stiffed out of Keita by a mule-like selling club so will feel perfectly entitled to play the same role against Barcelona.

They don't even tend to miss Coutinho anyway, and creative midfielders are the one position that nowadays in world football is overstocked.

PSG signing Neymar would be much more of a shot in the arm for PSG and French football than a deathblow for Barcelona and Spanish football, so it just depends if you want European football to get stronger in general or not.

Having lived in France for a while when I was younger I despise PSG and French football and would rather they stay in deserved obscurity.

 

[Ødegaard]

Don't know about good or bad for United.
On a personal level, I'd like to see Barcelona lose a player they are better off keeping.

 

[Hugh Jass]

The real worry will be how it inflates prices even more.

 

[Pexbo]

It's understandable why Woodward has been knocking on Barca's door and keeping Neymar sweet last summer and the year before. His entourage has been planning this for a while and had the big bidders on speed dial.

 

[whatwha]

Sure, why not. It's a bit exciting to see an "unsellable" player being stolen from Barca, the world's 3rd best player even.
It'll set off some other moves such as Coutinho, weakening Liverpool.
Also Pogba won't have to be the most expensive player anymore. Good stuff.

 

[JustAFan]

It's up to him, it is his career and his life

 

[KingMinger22]

I'm concerned that we might well have a good shot with Griezmann next summer, but Barca may hijack that.

 

[duffer]

Yeah, it'll weaken Barca. Even with Neymar, PSG are not as good (as Barca).

 

[ThomasEmil]

Of course. PSG always manages to fail in the CL somehow. And anyone leaving Barca has earned points in my book

 

[AshRK]

It's not a transfer though and that close isn't exactly new, some players have higher clauses too.

But when did we ever see such a amount being quoted. Trust me if this transfer goes through, £60 Million will become a common figure.

 

[harms]

Who follows Neymar though? It doesn't look as if Barça fans are priming themselves to follow PSG so I'm just wondering what fans he would bring with him? Brazilians?
Curious onlookers don't really bring that much long term.

Neymar is 2nd most popular footballer in the world. Sounds ridiculous, but he is ahead of Messi (if we're talking about brand value). So yeah, there will be followers — mostly South American, of course, plus a shit lot of youth

 

[adexkola]

It's funny how this event, and not the stratification of big clubs at Europe's peak, is seen by fans of big clubs as the start of worrying times in football.

To Joe Bloggs the Newcastle fan, this doesn't make any difference.

 

[JPRouve]

But when did we ever see such a amount being quoted. Trust me if this transfer goes through, £60 Million will become a common figure.

It's not a transfer, it's kind of a key point. Barcelona, according to reports, aren't selling Neymar, he is breaking his contract and the 200m is the penalty that he has to pay. This move is out of the transfer market because it's not a transfer, the same way Ibrahimovic for free doesn't change anything to the market.

 

[AkaAkuma]

I don't see him signing for them having any great effect on le Ligue viewership.

It'll be interesting to see if Barca can replace him, or will they piss the money up the wall.

Also, I've always felt Barca signing the top Brazilian attacker is self perpetuating - this transfer may have ruined that.

 

[Manny]

And of course it makes a difference to us unless you have zero foresight whatsoever.

Barcelona lose a star man, and all of a sudden need some sort of replacement. They may look at one of our rivals players. Coutinho has been heavily linked as such a replacement. Liverpool lose him, or even better some sort of drama with Hazard, it destablises a rival, and gives us a bit of help.

Seeing as you've mentioned foresight, I would say top clubs benefit from playing against top talent domestically.

If you want to build a great team you need be coming up against the best teams and best players regularly in the league. Its what pushes clubs and players to up their game and learn from one another. Any of Hazard, Coutinho and Sanchez leaving the league (knowing replacements are unlikely to be as good) makes the league weaker as well as strengthening our opposition in Europe. The emergence of Chelsea and Liverpool joining Arsenal as our competitors in the mid 2000's could only have helped us produce a great team between 06-09.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Neymar is 2nd most popular footballer in the world. Sounds ridiculous, but he is ahead of Messi (if we're talking about brand value). So yeah, there will be followers — mostly South American, of course, plus a shit lot of youth

Yeah, the la liga has always had a history of great South Americans playing there and when you have the likes of Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo, Neymar, R.Carlos, Kempes, Maradona (for that short period), Suarez, Redondo and Messi etc playing there, it's only natural that young kids dream of following in the foot-steps of their idols. Would be interesting to see if PSG can potentially stake their claim in the SA burgeoning talent market. With the likes of di Maria, Lucas, Cavani, Neymar (potentially), Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos etc, they are building quite the SA contingent and that's bound to have an impact. If I recall correctly it was also one of the key factors (besides the 'project'), for Lucas choosing them over us.

 

[JPRouve]

Yeah, the la liga has always had a history of great South Americans playing there and when you have the likes of Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo, Neymar, R.Carlos, Kempes, Maradona (for that short period), Suarez, Redondo and Messi etc playing there, it's only natural that young kids dream of following in the foot-steps of their idols. Would be interesting to see if PSG can potentially stake their claim in the SA burgeoning talent market. With the likes of di Maria, Lucas, Cavani, Neymar (potentially), Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos etc, they are building quite the SA contingent and that's bound to have an impact. If I recall correctly it was also one of the key factors (besides the 'project'), for Lucas choosing them over us.

And PSG are already known for Brazilian players, they have had a lot of them. They even tried to sign Pelé in the 70s.

 

[Joga Bonito]

And PSG are already known for Brazilian players, they have had a lot of them. They even tried to sign Pelé in the 70s.

Interesting, didn't realise that. Any famous ones? Can only recall Leonardo and think Jairzinho went to Marseille or another French club for a brief iirc.

 

[cyberman]

@harms
Isnt he just a popular footballer though? Beckham can do it because he transcends the sport but Neymar just seems to be a popular footballer.
Ronaldinho didn't exacty bring the eyes of world football to Milan when he moved.
I mean La Liga had Ronaldo / Messi / Griezmann / Suarez and Neymar and they never closed the gap to EPL audience. Thats Ronaldo and Suarez leaving as heroes from the two most popular teams in the worlds most watched league so how much can Neymar do on his own?
As JP says, he's leaving a megaclub where his global standing isn't extraordinary because of the level of player they have and the overall size of the club. Aren't their fans more likely to rally around Messi or wait for the next star to arrive?
There isn't 1 Barca fan who will follow him to PSG because of the reason he's leaving. He wants to compete with Messi for the number 1 spot.

 

[GloryHunter07]

If Barca sign M'bappe then that doesnt help us at all, just means that PSG have got a lot stronger.

 

[JPRouve]

Interesting, didn't realise that. Any famous ones? Can only recall Leonardo and think Jairzinho went to Marseille or another French club for a brief iirc.

It really started in 90s with Leonardo, Rai, Valdo, Ricardo and then Ronaldinho, they have had a bunch of average/bad ones here and there and since Néné, they are all pretty good players.

 

[harms]

@harms
Isnt he just a popular footballer though? Beckham can do it because he transcends the sport but Neymar just seems to be a popular footballer.
Ronaldinho didn't exacty bring the eyes of world football to Milan when he moved.
I mean La Liga had Ronaldo / Messi / Griezmann / Suarez and Neymar and they never closed the gap to EPL audience. Thats Ronaldo and Suarez leaving as heroes from the two most popular teams in the worlds most watched league so how much can Neymar do on his own?
As JP says, he's leaving a megaclub where his global standing isn't extraordinary because of the level of player they have and the overall size of the club. Aren't their fans more likely to rally around Messi or wait for the next star to arrive?
There isn't 1 Barca fan who will follow him to PSG because of the reason he's leaving. He wants to compete with Messi for the number 1 spot.

Ronaldinho wasn't at his peak.

I don't say that Neymar will make the French league more popular than La Liga, but he will bring lots of fans with him - he really is a **** hero in Brazil, and PSG has history with Ronaldinho, Rai, Valdo etc - and currently they have T. Silva, Lucas, Marquinos etc. If a generic young Brazilian boy decides to choose his favorite European club from the scratch, he would probably choose PSG.

 

[JPRouve]

@harms
Isnt he just a popular footballer though? Beckham can do it because he transcends the sport but Neymar just seems to be a popular footballer.
Ronaldinho didn't exacty bring the eyes of world football to Milan when he moved.
I mean La Liga had Ronaldo / Messi / Griezmann / Suarez and Neymar and they never closed the gap to EPL audience. Thats Ronaldo and Suarez leaving as heroes from the two most popular teams in the worlds most watched league so how much can Neymar do on his own?
As JP says, he's leaving a megaclub where his global standing isn't extraordinary because of the level of player they have and the overall size of the club. Aren't their fans more likely to rally around Messi or wait for the next star to arrive?
There isn't 1 Barca fan who will follow him to PSG because of the reason he's leaving. He wants to compete with Messi for the number 1 spot.

But no one is talking about Barca fans following him to PSG, you are trying to make it a lot more difficult than it is. People will have a an interest for the league because a superstar like Neymar is playing there, the same way people watched the league when they heard about Mbappé, no one is talking about fans, just viewers.
He is also a big deal in terms of highlights sold by the league because channels around the world will want them.

 

[Ecstatic]

Yeah, the la liga has always had a history of great South Americans playing there and when you have the likes of Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo, Neymar, R.Carlos, Kempes, Maradona (for that short period), Suarez, Redondo and Messi etc playing there, it's only natural that young kids dream of following in the foot-steps of their idols. Would be interesting to see if PSG can potentially stake their claim in the SA burgeoning talent market. With the likes of di Maria, Lucas, Cavani, Neymar (potentially), Alves, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos etc, they are building quite the SA contingent and that's bound to have an impact. If I recall correctly it was also one of the key factors (besides the 'project'), for Lucas choosing them over us.

Leonardo - the brilliant former Sporting Director of PSG - has engineered the team and convinced his former coach Ancelotti at Milan to join PSG.

 

[Cal?]

Yes, just so Barca and Liverpool get weaker, Barca because I despise them and Liverpool because they're a rival and rawk would be amazing to read afterwards.

This

 

[Cal?]

Seeing as you've mentioned foresight, I would say top clubs benefit from playing against top talent domestically.

If you want to build a great team you need be coming up against the best teams and best players regularly in the league. Its what pushes clubs and players to up their game and learn from one another. Any of Hazard, Coutinho and Sanchez leaving the league (knowing replacements are unlikely to be as good) makes the league weaker as well as strengthening our opposition in Europe. The emergence of Chelsea and Liverpool joining Arsenal as our competitors in the mid 2000's could only have helped us produce a great team between 06-09.

Not really true is it? The utter domination of Spanish sides in the CL coincides with them having only to play 4 tough games in La Liga every year.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Personally I think keeping Barce very strong is positive

We aren't going to compete with the biggest teams in near future. We prob arent good enough and mourinho said himself. We might win one off games by being ultra defensive but it isn't really competing.

With that said, barce sucking trophies from city might mean citys owners getting bored in 2 years rather than 6 years for example

 

[Rolandofgilead]

i don't want it to happen for a couple of reasons.

1 because the market is ridiculous and this amount of money for one player is absurd. it needs to stop and stop now.

2 I don't even rate Neymar that highly, i don't get the hype, i think he is easily the worst of their messi, suarez, neymar combination, so 'weakening Barca' isn't really an issue to me

 

[Eire Red United]

It's not a transfer, it's kind of a key point. Barcelona, according to reports, aren't selling Neymar, he is breaking his contract and the 200m is the penalty that he has to pay. This move is out of the transfer market because it's not a transfer, the same way Ibrahimovic for free doesn't change anything to the market.

Doesn't matter does it? It's still a club paying 200m or whatever it is for a player to play for them. Fecking disgusting amount of money.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Rich owners of small clubs have ruined football. Who would have thought City would be braking the tranfer record of spending in one summer or that one of the top 3 players in the world would be joining PSG. Im kind of getting sick of it all.

 

[Womp]

i don't want it to happen for a couple of reasons.

1 because the market is ridiculous and this amount of money for one player is absurd. it needs to stop and stop now.

2 I don't even rate Neymar that highly, i don't get the hype, i think he is easily the worst of their messi, suarez, neymar combination, so 'weakening Barca' isn't really an issue to me

He really isn't. Also they will be severely weakened as there isn't a player available as good as Neymar. On the plus side they can improve the rest of their squad with that money, but Messi can't go on forever. They need someone to fill in for Messi eventually and Neymar was looking that player.