Opinion: Neymar could join Manchester City in the near future
Neymar Jr's world record £200 million transfer in 2017 from FC Barcelona to French club Paris Saint-Germain, bankrolled by the Qatari owners made a huge splash in the market.
It was played in unending news cycles, climaxing months of speculations. He was on a quest to be the undisputed star of a squad, moving away from the shadow of Lionel Messi, and breaking the famed and feared MSN front three of Barcelona.
However, life at PSG hasn't all been easy. An injury and a lukewarm FIFA World Cup performance has resulted in him not scaling the heights as expected. His thunder has also been stolen by Kylian Mbappé who lit up the World Cup with France, and at 19 he is the future of the club.
Additionally, there's Edison Cavani to hog the limelight on his day. If PSG fail at Financial Fair Play, then they may be forced into selling Neymar or Kylian Mbappé. In such a case, Neymar moving on next summer seems to be the only plausible outcome, with Real Madrid ready and anxious to pounce on him.
Very few clubs can afford his wages, and apart from Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona and the Manchester clubs, there are hardly any options for him. Manchester United is not an exciting proposition with the current state of affairs at Old Trafford.
His Barça return is speculated, but that is highly unlikely, not unless Quique Setién or Xavi take over the reins from Ernesto Valverde. Chelsea too are in with a shout as they need a world-class striker.
Joining Real Madrid will once again bring him under tremendous scrutiny and constant malice from Barcelona fans - as is the case with players switching allegiance. They didn't spare Luís Figo when he switched, they wouldn't spare him. Therefore, training under Guardiola looks a very promising opportunity.
The possibility of a move to the current English Premier League champions was stoked by the 26-year old Brazilian superstar himself.
“I arrived in Barcelona a year after he left. I really want to work with him”
Guardiola and Neymar's paths have never crossed, as he left FC Barcelona for a year-long sabbatical in 2012 while Neymar joined Nou Camp in 2013.
The forward has already been linked with a move away from Paris since his expectations have not met the footballing reality. He didn't challenge for the Ballon d'Or, just as PSG didn't challenge for the Champions League - the holy grail for him and PSG respectively.
As it stands, with Manchester City on an upward trajectory, they have a great chance of making another thumping statement of intent by signing Neymar.
Guardiola has conceded that his side is missing that magic in the Champions League against the elite European clubs. The Catalan coach is slated to stay until 2021 at the Etihad, and if the Champions League is not nabbed this year, he might just recruit Neymar to bring in a quicksilver touch to his squad.
This is something he hasn't had since Lionel Messi. Neymar is a lithe, big match player who fits the player profile Guardiola prefers. And although the underrated Sergio Agüero will have to make way, Pep has always been ruthless in his pursuit of excellence and clearance of deadwood.
Winning the Champions League is City's mission, with Pep trusted to bring in the laurel. Say what critics may about him inheriting the most talented team at Barcelona in 2008, or the richest side in Germany with Bayern Munich, but he is a coach with ideas and a clear philosophy.
He makes the best of the situation, and improves the footballers in the team. The spikes in quality level of players under him at City like Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Bernardo Silva are proof.
Neymar would truly peak playing for him. Neymar to City may not be as far-fetched as it may seem. At worst he is going to be seen as a very expensive for-hire mercenary hell bent on getting a Ballon d'Or, and he will have a hell of chance at doing it under Pep Guardiola.