Neymar stuck at PSG. Now What?

Neymar, Neymar, Neymar. It was difficult to hear any major transfer story from the recent summer window that the Brazilian wasn't mentioned. Neymar has constantly stated his desire to leave Paris Saint-Germain with a return to Barcelona. However, the transfer window has gone shut and Neymar will be licking his wounds as Barcelona and PSG were unable to get a deal done. So what now for the 27 year old?

It is not denying that Neymar is one of the best players around in the game. From his rise to stardom at Santos to being part of one of the best attacking front threes this decade at Barcelona, scoring 105 goals in 186 games, winning two La Liga title and the Champions League, he looked to become Football's next superstar after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. That's not to mention his record for Brazil, scoring 60 goals in 97 caps. Only Pele and Ronaldo have scored more goals for the Seleção.

When he moved to Paris from Barcelona for a world record fee of €222m in 2017, the move was perceived to be that Neymar moved to be out of the shadow of Messi and lead PSG to success particularly in the Champions League. Despite winning two Ligue 1 titles and scoring 51 goals in just 58 games, Neymar's time at Paris has turbulent to say the least. He has unable to lead PSG in the Champions League with injuries keeping him out of the knockout stages and the rest of the season, frustrating the PSG hierarchy.

There's also Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman had busted into the scene plus being France's golden boy and from Paris, he's getting much of the attention in PSG that has kept Neymar out on the wayside. His lifestyle and attitude has also come into questioning from his partying in Paris and Brazil while he was injured to his negative attitude towards Ligue 1 which was seen when he punched a fan after the Coupe de France Final defeat to Rennes in May and being fined for coming late for pre-season training in July.

This has pushed PSG to their limit, deciding to cut their losses but with his extreme wages and price tag, no one has that money to acquire Neymar. Not even Barcelona. So what now for him? Well, he would have to face the music in Paris with the PSG faithful already voicing their displeasure towards. So he would have to win the fans over. Plus, giving PSG this season. Since moving, he hasn't played over 30 games in all competitions having played 45 games in his final season at Barcelona.

So Neymar has a lot to prove, to both the PSG fans and hierarchy that he can still lead PSG in a Champions League run this season but will be unavailable for half of the group games for PSG. Also, to everyone who thinks that he has fallen off the map, as he has become quite irrelevant. The floor is set, Neymar Jr.