Barcelona News: Neymar needs to change his mentality to come back to Barca, remarks Blaugrana legend
What's the story?
With multiple reports emerging from Spain that Barcelona are headed to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain, Blaugrana and Brazil legend Rivaldo has come out to state that the superstar must change his mentality if he wants to return to the Camp Nou.
In case you didn't know...
27-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar enjoyed four highly successful seasons at Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, after arriving from Brazilian side Santos. Forming one of the most feared front three's ever in world football, Neymar alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez plundered 122 goals in an incredible 2014-15 season, propelling Barcelona to a scintillating treble.
The Brazilian however, departed for the riches of Paris Saint-Germain in August 2017, with the French club paying out Neymar's astronomical €222 release clause, making him the most expensive football transfer of all time.
Also see : Womens World Cup Bracket, Gold Cup Standings, Copa America Standings.
The heart of the matter
According to Marca, Barcelona are looking at various options to re-sign Neymar with €100 million in cash alongwith players like Ivan Rakitic and Philippe Coutinho being offered to the Parisians.
47-year-old Barcelona legend Rivaldo, a World cup winner with Brazil in 2002, has given his two cents on the rumoured transfer. The 1999 Ballon d'Or winner stressed that Neymar must improve his mentality to gel back into the Barcelona sqaud.
"I would love for him to return [to Barcelona] and it would be very good for the team and for him," Rivaldo said. "I hope he goes back, changes his mentality and starts playing football."
He went on to explain that Neymar's return would be good for the Blaugrana as it would improve their chances in the Champions League.
"If he returns, Barcelona will have a chance to win the Champions League and he will have a chance to become the best in the world. Almost 70 percent [of the fans] don't want him back. When the ball ends up in the net and if he also wins the Champions League then everything will be forgotten. When wins arrive and if he plays well, everything changes. He is at the best age to play football, even better than when Barcelona won the treble
Rivaldo was also insistent that compatriot Philippe Coutinho should not lose hope despite a poor first season at the Camp Nou.
"[Coutinho] is a good player but things haven't gone his way yet," he said."He will have time if he doesn't leave the club, but we don't know if he will stay if Neymar arrives. If he thinks he can't be the same he was when he played at Liverpool then it would be better to talk with the president to leave for a good club."
What's next?
Barcelona start their pre-season with a friendly against Premier League side Chelsea. The match is scheduled for 23rd July and is set to take place at the Saitama stadium in Saitama, Japan.