'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neymar's controversial transfer saga came to an end in August last year when he chose to quit Barcelona for Paris Saint Germain. Whether Barcelona were right or wrong in letting him go is a debate we better avoid entering in.
Becoming the most expensive player in the history of the sport, the Brazilian justified his price tag by scoring as well as creating goals for his new club. Meanwhile, Barcelona have done unexpectedly great without him in Spain.
However, just a few months following his record move, the football world has been flooding with rumours of his departure.
Will he leave or will he stay? PSG have already confirmed that Neymar won't be leaving the Les Parisiens, yet the back-fence talk about his departure hasn't ceased.
Should he be available in the market once again, here are five reasons why The Catalans should waste no time in signing the Brazilian.
#5 Dembele hasn't fulfilled expectations
Having signed for Barcelona in a £103.50 million deal from Borussia Dortmund last summer, Ousmane Dembele has endured a miserable spell at the Nou Camp. The 20-year-old has failed to fill Neymar's boots at the club while the mammoth fee paid for him makes him look like a very expensive mistake.
On Dembele's behalf, it's true that fitness has been a major reason why he hasn't been able to get more minutes and prove his mettle to the Barcelona faithful. However, in the 19 games he has played for the Catalans in all competitions, the Frenchman has found the net only 2 times while setting up another 6 goals.
Another shocking fact is that Dembele has played a full game for Barcelona only once this entire season, in the club's emphatic 6-1 win over Girona in the league.
Although he deserves another chance at the club knowing that injuries have hampered his progress, the rumour mill has also been buzzing about his exit from the club.
Neymar's arrival will ease a lot of pressure on the club as a whole, and there's no special need to talk about his talents as a world-class footballer, is there?
#4 The tactical advantage
One good reason why Barcelona should sign Neymar is the fact that they seem to have lost their grip in attack. The Catalan flair that we so often associate with them is rarely seen these days.
With the Brazilian gone and Dembele sidelined to the fringes for a large part of the season, Ernesto Valverde has played his men in a 4-4-2 format in the majority of games.
It's no secret that with the set of players they have, La Blaugrana are way more menacing when they play in a 4-3-3 setup.
Signing Neymar will solve that problem for Valverde as he will be able to use the 4-3-3 more often. Also, reuniting the MSN trio will no doubt increase their chances of winning the UEFA Champions League and it will be a move that goes down well with the fans as well..
#3 It would take the pressure off Messi
Better we stretch back to Barcelona's loss to Roma in the Champions League.
It was clear Messi wasn't having one of his best days. He failed to make the difference in the game and was subject to some unreal hatred and criticism following the fixture. While castigating him, seldom anybody would have thought of the number of times he saved the club in the past.
Why did that happen? Because of the massive burden of expectations that people place on his shoulders.
The amount of criticism levelled at the Barca forward was way greater in contrast to the other individuals who shared the pitch with him that day. It was a fine example of how Barcelona suffered due to 'Messidependencia'.
Neymar's arrival will reduce the pressure on Messi and on rare occasions when Messi has an off-day, Neymar can easily step up to lead from the front, as he has done in the past.
#2 Neymar is Messi's heir apparent
Like all good and bad times come to a halt some or the other day, so will Messi's glorious days at the Nou Camp.
The question is, after becoming so much accustomed to the Argentinian's magic week in week out, does Barcelona have a worthy replacement in place for Messi? Not at the moment.
When Neymar signed for Barcelona in 2013, he was viewed as Messi's heir, thanks to his dazzling style of play. However, losing the Brazilian may have worsened the conditions for the club more than we can imagine.
If not Neymar, it is an uphill task to find a player worthy of filling in for the Argentinan. During his years at the Nou Camp, the 25-year-old proved that he definitely has what it takes to replace Messi as the talisman of the club in the future.
Another fine reason why the Blaugrana should try and sign Neymar as soon as possible.
#1 Neymar to Real Madrid will signal trouble
Recent reports have stated that Neymar is plotting a summer move back to Spain but as a Real Madrid player.
Barcelona's claim to supremacy in Spain is challenged only by Los Blancos, their fierce arch-rivals since the 20th century. The Catalans have had some amazing players in their history but when you look at their squad today, the degradation in the quality of the players is starkly visible.
On the other hand, Real have built one of the best teams in their recent history, a team that has gone on to win three Champions League titles in the last four years. Imagine the level to which Neymar will raise them if he joins the Los Blancos.
Scary, isn't it, Barca fans?
Neymar's move to Real Madrid will symbolize the power shift in Spain and make it tougher for their arch-rivals to challenge them.
Also, consider the fact that Perez and Co. will leave no stone unturned in their attempts to poach the Brazilian since they haven't made a marquee signing for almost two years now and are likely to do so this summer.
So, won't it be better if Barcelona snap him up if an opportunity arises and save themselves from being totally dominated by their rivals?
