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The speculation surrounding Neymar Jr's future at Barcelona has reached fever pitch in the last few weeks, with incessant rumours of a move to Ligue 1 giants Paris St-Germain for an eye-watering fee of €222 million, the release clause of the Brazilian's contract.
The money on offer to Neymar on a personal level must also be quite staggering with reports in the French press claiming a €50 million annual salary. Manchester United were another club linked with the Brazilian, and rumours of a move away from Barcelona simply will not die down.
Here are the major reasons why Neymar should reject a move to PSG/Manchester United and stay with Barcelona
#1 Moving in a World Cup Year is a risk
Every footballer seeking a move in this transfer window will do so with guarantees of play time. This is the season that will decide the squads of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and it is imperative for players seeking a move that they play.
I'm not suggesting that Neymar will not be in the plane for Russia come June 2018, the idea would seem downright sacrilegious to a Selecao fan. Adapting to a new league might not work out according to plan, and Neymar runs the risk of being out of form once the World Cup extravaganza kicks off.
Brazil need Neymar to have a settled and productive year for his club side, not dealing with the pressure of being the most expensive player of all time and with notoriously unforgiving media scrutiny. Staying with Barcelona is not a guarantee against tumult, but the Selecao will be safe in the knowledge that their most important player is steadily improving in time for the greatest prize in football.
#2 PSG and Manchester United are not Champions League favourites
Neymar is smack dab in the middle of his peak years as a player, having turned 25 in February of this year. Footballers have an extremely short spell at the top of their game, and as such cannot afford to spend their best years at a club waiting for it to catch up to their aspirations.
By no means am I suggesting that Paris St-Germain and Manchester United are not going to win the UEFA Champions League. They are outsiders at the moment, and even the addition of a once-in-a-lifetime player like Neymar Jr. isn't enough to mask glaring weaknesses both sides have in other areas of the pitch.
Real Madrid have shown that it takes a 20+ man squad filled to the brim with talent in each position to win Europe's top prize. Barcelona aren't close to that by any means, but as long as Messi and Neymar are both there, they stand a better chance of winning the highest prize in club football than either of PSG or Manchester United.
#3 Neymar is the heir to Lionel Messi
Barcelona's pre-season match against Juventus was quite revealing, despite the caveat that it was, a pre-season friendly. While Lionel Messi was named in the forward line in the Ernesto Valverde's team-sheet, the Argentine magician's heat-map was distinctly in the middle of the pitch.
It allowed Neymar to experience probably his best 45 minutes in a Blaugrana shirt, as he tormented the Juventus defence (albeit shorn of Leo Bonucci) that shut out Barca for 180 minutes just two months ago. We were witness to the Neymar that turns out for Brazil - he was the leader of Barca's attacking play, with Messi the conductor.
Much is made of the fact that Lionel Messi has another good 5-7 years at the top level and thus Neymar will always be in his shadow. It does the Brazilian a disservice - Neymar is talented enough to outshine Messi on his day (see: Barcelona 6-1 PSG) and can do so with increasing regularity if Messi opts for a deeper role. There is a future for Neymar at Barca as Messi's heir - and it may come sooner than most people expect.
#4 Ligue 1 or the Premier League may not suit Neymar's playstyle
Neymar Jr's style of play is fairly set in stone at the age of 25 - the Brazilian is perhaps the player who attempts the most dribbles and take-ons in La Liga... with predictable results.
Neymar's penchant for 'going down easily' is well known, and while the referees in La Liga are predisposed to blow their whistle, he might find that it is not the case in Ligue 1, and especially not in the Premier League.
Moving to the cold & damp Manchester may not sit well with the sunny Brazilian, but even putting aside the weather, Neymar may need to adopt a more direct style in these leagues that tend to not afford as much time on the ball as La Liga does.
Neymar does have the ability to adapt though, and after a bedding in period might reach the peak of his prowess in any league, but that is quite a risky for his short term goals with Brazil.
#5 Mes que un club
"I understand that I am not a born culé, nor am I one by family or tradition, but that day I was one Barcelonista more. I'd noticed before the feelings of the fans that allowed them to identify with the club so much, but that day I remember returning to El Prat airport and seeing a mountain of people and thinking: "We've still not even won La Liga!" The fans celebrated that victory like it was a title. That was when I realised what 'Més que un club' really meant. Barça is a culture, a religion, something more, it is an incredible club."
- Thierry Henry, speaking about Barcelona's 6-2 win over Real Madrid
Neymar wasn't born a Barcelona fan, he never came through the academy. However, the Brazilian is at a truly special club, and the chance to play alongside the best player to have ever graced the game is not something to turn up your nose at.
If he leaves Barcelona, Neymar will never again experience the madness of an El Clasico - the Manchester derby and French derbies are but pale imitations of the 'biggest game in club football'.
The Catalans love their favourite footballing sons with a passion, and Neymar eschews the chance to become a legend at Barcelona and simply become a successful player at two clubs if he moves to either PSG or Manchester United. Will he move? No one but him knows. Should he move? That's a far easier answer.
No.
