In recent weeks there have been plenty of reports linking Manchester City with a move for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, but all logic and historical evidence suggests that these could not be further from the truth.
Neymar — who PSG signed from Barcelona for a world record £200m in 2017 — endured something of a fall from grace last season. His relationship with the club and fans deteriorated after his side's elimination from the Champions League in the last 16, and while new manager Christophe Galtier wants to keep him around, PSG are reportedly open to letting their Brazilian star leave.
Neymar still has three years remaining on the new contract he signed in 2021, so would demand hefty wages were he to move. That's why City are linked with him, and why PSG have reportedly 'offered' the 30-year-old to the Blues. Few other clubs would be able to afford him.
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But signing Neymar makes absolutely no sense for City. Firstly, bringing in a player of his status, with his ego and reputation for causing dressing room unrest would be completely at odds with the ethos carefully curated at the Etihad Stadium.
One of the keys to City's success under Pep Guardiola has been the healthy dressing room environment, where there is no global superstar who looks down upon those not on his level.
Of course, the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne are clearly levels above some of their teammates, but they are modest and are good personalities to have around.
The bullet City dodged in not signing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer should be a lesson to them. While he might have scored 18 league goals for United last season, the destabilising effect Ronaldo has had on the Old Trafford dressing room — not to mention the way his lack of off-the-ball work burdened the team on the pitch — outweighed his upsides.
Ronaldo and United are now stuck in a 'will he, won't he' saga surrounding his future. After one disappointing season, he has thrown his toys out of the pram.
Neymar would bring a similar risk. A player of his status would demand to play every game, something that just can't happen if Guardiola is to maintain harmony in his squad and his trademark rotation policy.
Dropping Neymar into the squad would have a direct impact on some of City's other stars. The Brazilian plays predominantly on the left wing, an area currently occupied at City by Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
Grealish endured a — perhaps predictably — inconsistent first season at City, so the last thing he needs is a superstar hogging minutes in his position. Foden is one of the best young talents the club has ever produced, and at 21 he's willing and able to play regularly now.
Part of the reason Neymar went to PSG was to escape the shadow of Lionel Messi at Barcelona and become the main man. Last season with Messi alongside him in the same team, Neymar never really looked comfortable or happy as PSG looked unbalanced and bloated in attack.
Would Neymar fit in any better at City, a group of elite players pulling in the same direction for the collective good, rather than individual success? It seems unlikely.
A move to City would not be good for Neymar, but more importantly it would not be good for City.
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