Neymar to accept 50 per cent pay-cut for Barcelona move

Neymar to accept 50 per cent pay-cut for Barcelona move
Neymar to accept 50 per cent pay-cut for Barcelona move

Neymar is reportedly willing to forego 50 per cent of the payment to secure a summer move from Paris back to Camp Nou.

The 28-year-old Brazilian has been regularly linked to Barcelona return though PSG’s €200million (£175million) asking price was likely to prove any deterrence.

However, Monday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo reports that Neymar is determined to push his agenda to return to Barcelona and is ready to make a financial sacrifice.

Neymar earns €700,000/week under his current contract at PSG but, according to the report, is willing to reduce €350,000-a-week for the La Liga giant. It can be remembered,Neymar was one of the players who rejected planned pay-cuts at PSG amid the coronavirus crisis.  

In November last year, the 28-year-old, who cost a world record €230million (£198m) move, reportedly rejected a new contract offer worth €106m to stay at the Parc des Princes. His existing deal runs until 2022 and this offer would have tied him to PSG until 2025 but Neymar looks decided on returning to Barcelona.

Mundo Deportivo also reported that PSG could even reduce their price to €155million approximately, as the player has made clear he doesn’t want to stay beyond this summer. Barcelona are also willing to bringing Neymar back to Camp Nou, but also appear to be interested in Inter Milan’s Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez, who has a €115million (£98m) release clause.

And while Barcelona have previously been bullish about signing both players, the financial impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, which has already seen their squad accept a 70 per cent pay cut, may mean it is no longer possible.

Reports over the weekend suggested that Barcelona have already lost €145million (£124m) as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Neymar has enjoyed a fine season with PSG, scoring 18 goals and providing 10 assists in 22 matches across all competitions. PSG have been awarded the Ligue 1 title following the cancellation of French league amid the coronavirus pandemic and had made it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, should the competition resume later in the year.