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Manchester City: Neymar rumoured to be on City radar

By Jason Bardwell

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 17:Robinho of Guangzhou Evergrande FC and Neymar of Barcelona share a joke before the FIFA Club World Cup Semi Final match between Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande FC at International Stadium Yokohama on December 17, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 17:Robinho of Guangzhou Evergrande FC and Neymar of Barcelona share a joke before the FIFA Club World Cup Semi Final match between Barcelona and Guangzhou Evergrande FC at International Stadium Yokohama on December 17, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images) /
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The news coming out of the Parc de Princes was that their newly bought superstrop, I mean superstar, was unhappy. Well that didn’t take long! Out of the Champions League in the first knockout round, PSG have not exactly set Europe on fire with M’bappe and Neymar.

Top of Ligue 1, and on course to win it again, Neymar’s purchase was to collect Champions League glory. That, of course, fell away after Real Madrid dispatched the Parisians, who were minus the Brazilian.

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His season in the French capital has been one of mostly disruption rather than elevation of the side. Remember the altercation he had with Edison Cavani over the penalty taking responsibilities. Later there was the balancing of his football boot on his head.

Now, after a really disappointing season, he has gone to the board for a pay increase. A big slap in the face of the people who brought him in and welcomed him with open arms. We all remember the record fee, a release clause paid. Do we remember the giving up of the number 10 shirt so that Neymar could get the number he wanted?

His initial contract, over his five-year deal, would see the 26-year-old earn around £265 million. Now, just over nine months later, he is asking for more. It just goes to show you, as if we were not already convinced, that he was motivated by money.

His explanation that he wanted to get out from Lionel Messi’s shadow, has been destroyed by his new demands. An initial report that he was on the radar of Real Madrid would only see him in the shadow of another Balon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Of course it wouldn’t be a big money transfer without the two Manchester clubs being mentioned. As a blues fan I wouldn’t like to see him come to City, just because of this season at PSG. He has disrupted the side, questioned the manager, and offered very little of substance in return.

Luckily, with the recent evidence of Alexis Sanchez and Riyad Mahrez, City are unlikely to entertain any deal. A player like him coming in to City would upset the current squad we have, of that I have no doubt.

On the other hand, Manchester United have a recent footballing heritage of paying over the odds for players who do not offer too much. Romelu Lukakau is now starting to fire, but Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez have both been very disappointing.

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Now that Zlatan has left, they certainly have ego room for such a player as Neymar. For City, we’ve had our fair share of big money players who have not produced on the field. Robinho was the first of our new ownership who came in with big expectations before leaving quietly months later.

To a lesser extent, mainly because of his off field antics, is Mario Balotelli. He will always be remembered for that ‘Why Always Me’ shirt after the opening goal in the Manchester derby. That, alongside the assist for Aguero’s title-winning goal, eclipses the allergy to grass and other selfish acts or laziness on the field.