New sporting director Deco has revealed that it was “impossible” for Barcelona to sign Neymar this summer due to their financial situation.
Neymar officially joined Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal this weekend, with the club agreeing to part ways with a whopping €90m (£77.6m) for the 31-year-old’s services. As well as signing Neymar for that huge fee, the club have also agreed to pay the player a £2.5m-per-week wage throughout a two-year deal.
Barcelona had been linked with a move for the Brazilian earlier in the summer transfer window, however despite being offered to the club by Paris Saint-Germain and his representatives, manager Xavi Hernandez vetoed any potential move for the play, admitting that Neymar was “not in our plan” in June.
Deco has now shed more light on the club’s decision to ultimately not pursue a move for Neymar, admitting to Globo Esporte that the club simply couldn’t afford the player.
“Everyone knows that at this moment, unfortunately, with our financial situation, it was impossible to make such a signing,” Deco revealed. “We needed an understanding with PSG or a settlement with the Saudi Arabians, something that didn’t happen.
“It was a situation that needed to be economically viable for us, but it was never a possibility because of the club’s economic situation.”
Neymar enjoyed the best years of his career to date at Barcelona, scoring 105 goals in 186 appearances over a four-year spell and winning a famous treble in 2015.
What we know
- Neymar had signed a two-year mega money deal with Al Hilal
- The Brazilian had been linked with a return to Barca
- 90min understands Xavi was not keen on such a move