According to reports from Spanish publication Don Balon, Manchester United target Neymar is considering leaving Barcelona amid fears he’ll always be overshadowed by team-mate Lionel Messi.
The 23 year-old forward, who bagged 39 goals in 51 appearances last season to help fire the Nou Camp outfit to a La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey treble, was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer and his father has since confirmed that the Red Devils made a formal bid to sign him – believed to be worth around £139million.
The Brazil international has recently vowed to extend his Nou Camp contract past its expiration in 2018, seemingly ruling out any chance a Red Devils switch in the near future, but reports from Don Balon suggest the situation may be a little more complicated than once assumed.
The Spanish publication claim Neymar is continually stalling on putting pen to paper because of his ambitions to win the Ballon d’Or, which will always be a near-impossible task whilst playing support act to four-time winner Lionel Messi.
The summer 2013 signing has bagged five goals and five assists in five appearances since the Argentine was ruled out for eight weeks with a knee injury in September, but is well aware Messi will receive the staring role once returning from the sidelines. Likewise, Don Balon’s report coincides with news that Barcelona are preparing a new contract that will see the 28 year-old retire at the Nou Camp.
Resultantly, they claim Neymar is on the lookout for a new club that will build a team around him as he pursues world football’s most prestigious individual accolade. Manchester United can certainly offer the South American that platform but the European champions won’t surrender him without a fight.