3 reasons why resigning Neymar could help Barcelona win the Champions League next season

Neymar helped Barcelona win the Champions League in 2015
Neymar helped Barcelona win the Champions League in 2015

Neymar set the transfer tabloids on fire when he stated that he was tired of life in the French capital and wants to return to the place he calls 'home', claiming he should never have left in the first place.

Following this bold claim, reports have emanated that Barcelona are interested in bringing the Brazilian international back to Nou Camp, with speculations that the 27-year-old has agreed to their three demands for him to return to the club.

The former Santos forward left Barcelona in acrimonious circumstances in a world record fee just two years ago but the coast now seems clear for him to make a shocking return to the Nou Camp.

Having underperformed in the continent in recent years, it is no hidden secret that Barcelona are desperate to get to the pinnacle of European football once again and the return of Neymar could make them an unstoppable force next season.

In this piece, we shall be highlighting three reasons why Neymar's return could catapult Barcelona back to the summit of the Champions League.

#3 His efficient partnership with Messi and Suarez

MSN was an unstoppable force during their time together at Barcelona
MSN was an unstoppable force during their time together at Barcelona

During Neymar's first spell at Barcelona, he formed one-third of arguably the most devastating attacking line the game of football has ever seen.

In what was an all South American combo, Neymar operated on the left flank of an attack which was affectionately termed 'MSN'. Alongside Messi and Suarez, Neymar terrorized opposition defenses, scoring goals at will and helping Barcelona to a number of major trophies.

In total, the trio scored 250 goals from 299 matches in all competitions across three seasons, while also registering a total of 116 assists, helping Barcelona to seven trophies including a treble in their very first season together.

Beyond their excellent understanding on the field, the three superstars are also great friends off it and maintain communication till this day by way of a special WhatsApp group created for just the three of them while Messi and Suarez have also been very vocal in their support for their friend's return.

When Neymar represented Barcelona, the club was an almost unstoppable force, as he combined effectively with Suarez and Messi and it is no hidden secret that the Catalans have wasted a lot of resources to no avail in trying to replace him.

The return of Neymar offers an opportunity for the reunion of possibly the most devastating attacking trident in the history of European football and this could help Barcelona reclaim their long sought after Champions League crown.

#2 He is a proven performer on the big stages

Neymar captained Brazil to Olympic Gold in 2016
Neymar captained Brazil to Olympic Gold in 2016

Over the last decade, Neymar has played his way into unarguably being considered one of the best players in the world.

The 27-year-old is a bonafide world class forward who has performed on the biggest stages and while his sojourn at PSG and underperformance at the last World Cup might paint a different picture, it takes nothing away from the fact on his day, Neymar is one of the best players of his generation and a potential Ballon d'Or winner.

With 60 goals from just 97 international appearances, Neymar is the 4th highest goalscorer in the illustrious history of the Brazilian national team and it is only a matter of time before he breaks Pele's long-standing record of 77, while his career total of 352 goals from 564 matches comes at a very impressive ratio of 0.62 goals per match.

Moving further, he won the Bronze Boot at the 2014 World Cup with four goals and has also scored in the finals of both the FIFA Confederations Cup as well as the Champions League and showed great composure to slot home the winning penalty in the final of the 2016 Olympics football tournament on home soil to captain Brazil to the one elusive Gold medal they had not captured.

It goes without saying that Neymar is no stranger to performing on the biggest stages and as there is no stage bigger than the Champions League in club football, Neymar's return could help propel Barcelona back to the top.

#1 He would be desperate to prove himself

Neymar has seen his abilities questioned in recent years
Neymar has seen his abilities questioned in recent years

As recently as two years ago, Neymar was widely regarded as the best player in the world bar Ronaldo and Messi, with many tipping him to be the man to inherit the eternal duo's throne when they depart the scene.

The general consensus was that as long as Neymar remained at Barcelona, he would never get the opportunity to exit Messi's shadow, as no matter what he did, the Argentine would always receive the glory.

His record breaking transfer to PSG represented an opportunity for the Brazilian to finally have a team of his own to carry and showcase his abilities to the world and the fact that PSG were in desperate need of a marquee player to lead them to Champions League glory meant that it was supposed to be a marriage made in heaven.

However, it has largely worked to plan for Neymar in the French capital, as a combination of different factors including injury and disciplinary issues meant he failed woefully in his ambitions at PSG, while his theatrics with Brazil at the last World Cup hardly helped matters.

The result of this is that in the last two years, Neymar has seen his reputation plummet from world beater and Ballon d'Or winner in the making to a that of a primadonna and spoiled brat who whines when things don't go his way.

He has also been overtaken by the likes of Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in the discussions for the best player after Messi /Ronaldo and was unsurprisingly omitted from the top ten Ballon d'Or nominees last year.

Nevertheless, Neymar remains among the very best in the world on his day and he would be eager to showcase his abilities on the biggest stages and remind everyone of just how good he is; and this quest to prove himself once again would undoubtedly be of benefit to Barcelona.

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Edited by Kingshuk Kusari