Neymar Jr’s agent has reportedly met with Barcelona amid suggestion that the Brazil superstar could return to Catalonia at the end of the season, according to reports in Spain.
The forward made an emotional return to his boyhood club Santos at the start of the year, but has only returned to his home country on a short-term deal.
The 33-year-old has been searching for a return to form after suffering from an ACL injury which brought about a premature end to his blockbuster move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in late 2023.
And although not yet the rejuvenated talent of old, Neymar has been showing signs of improvement in Rio de Janeiro, registering five goal contributions in his last three matches.
But despite making progress at Santos, Neymar will be a free agent at the end of the summer, and is thought to be interested in a return to European football.
As per Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona remains Neymar’s dream target – so much so that the player’s agent, Pini Zahavi, has reached out to the club to discuss the opportunity.
Neymar Jr is thought to be keen to for a move back to Barcelona after returning to the pitch at his boyhood side Santos
The forward played in Catalonia between 2013 before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017
Neymar’s agent Pini Zahavi is thought to have a strong relationship with the Barcelona board
Zahavi has a strong relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, and is thought to have pitched his player as an option to join Hansi Flick’s set-up as a free agent.
But Laporta and Zahavi could face resistance from manager Flick, who is thought to be unconvinced by adding the forward to his ranks.
Despite murmurings that Neymar’s return to Santos could be brief, the club’s president Marcelo Teixeira was bullish this week about the possibility of the player staying until the 2026 World Cup.
‘With Neymar’s arrival, we have 75,000 members,’ he told ESPN. ‘Today, we can measure what is related to the technical aspect, what represents the financial aspect.
‘All financial objectives will be increased, above what we previously estimated. If everything goes well, the tendency is for this partnership to continue and be expanded until next year’s World Cup.’
Before joining Barcelona in a blockbuster move in 2013, Neymar scored 136 senior goals for Santos during his four-year stint.
He scored 105 goals in 186 appearances for Barca, followed by 118 in 173 outings for Paris Saint-Germain, while he has also produced 79 in 128 for Brazil at international level.
