Most PSG fans would tell you that Neymar is the superior player to Mbappé. Similar if not better stats (goals and assists per played minute), the much better individualist, dribbler, creator etc. However Mbappé is almost 7 years younger, a World Cup winner and the most hyped and proven youngster. Being a local kid as well. So obviously Neymar is not going to steal the entire limelight as he might have hoped for when he moved back in 2017. Getting injured at the end of the season two seasons in a row is not helping either with this perception.
The problem is not so much Neymar the football player (ability wise) but more about the baggage that follows him, the disgraceful way that he left the club while creating a giant mess in the process with one of the consequences being the "genius" Coutinho purchase. His recent injuries, his arrival further strengthening the "club de amigos", Valverde being a passenger rather than a manager far, far from being the right guy to keep a check on the team and the club de amigos.
Basically incapable of leading a team with so many strong personalities and star names (many past their best date) in the adequate manner.
Him not being a youngster anymore is not helping either. I get it 27 is not old but players with the dedication and level like Messi and C. Ronaldo well into their 30's is a rare thing although increasing nowadays due to medical, nutritional etc. advancements. We all know the history of Brazilian mega stars once they approach their 30's.
There are more red flags and question marks than positives in the current context. Valverde at the helm, the board being the board, how the hell are we going to fit Messi, Neymar, Griezmann, Suárez and Dembélé into the same team while keeping everyone content?
Getting rid of Coutinho, possibly Rakitic as well or other deadwood is all fine but far from judging a possible and likely Neymar arrival as some kind of genius step let alone a great or good step IMO.
My hope, as written earlier, is just that Neymar will man himself up and catch the train before it departs. He should kiss the hand of Bartomeu and the pitch of Camp Nou if he manages to leave PSG. Apologize publicly for his disgraceful manner in which he left in, take a pay cut, the times of him leaving to Brazil whenever possible or to celebrate his sister birthday should be over as well. Throw some of the bad apples from his entourage away as well. Preferably settling down in life with some partner as well rather than partying whenever possible. In other words be a top professional like Messi, C. Ronaldo, Alves etc.
Focus on football 100% and use the past few years of fiasco as motivation to reach the highest heights be it collectively (trophy wise) or individually (Ballon d'Or) which are tied to each other anyway. Prove the world and doubters wrong.
One of the few positives that I can think of (in the wider picture all things considered) but it solely depends on Neymar and our and his luck. Do I think the above will happen? I don't know, maybe initially, but after that he will return to old habits most likely. In particular with this board around and this "manager".
He might get another serious injury as well and we will be even more disgraced as a club.
The Neymar we need more is the one who will run into space and finish the chances (2015 Neymar), not the one that assumes the playmaking role and creates (2016 and onwards), we already have Messi for that. I'm hoping if he comes, he will play the former role.
Bingo. How Dembélé should have been used if we had a manager that knew what he was doing. A certain horrible game in Rome comes to mind in particular. Criminal to not have used Dembélé more in this role whenever he was ready. Even if you see a light in him or not, everyone of us should agree that he has been misused tactically by Malmierda. A finished world class player in Griezmann might be next on the list, sadly.