Transfer Centre

Paris Saint-Germain 'offered Neymar to Manchester City'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 02 September 2022

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly offered Manchester City the chance to sign Brazilian forward Neymar during the summer transfer window.

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly offered Manchester City the chance to sign Brazilian forward Neymar this summer.

The 30-year-old's future was questioned throughout the summer window, with reports claiming that the French giants were willing to offload him before the deadline.

There have also been rumours suggesting that there has been conflict between fellow star attackers Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe regarding Neymar's future, with the latter allegedly keen to see the Brazilian sold.

Both Neymar and Mbappe recently fell out during the Ligue 1 win against Montpellier in the middle of last month over the order of penalty takers, with the former ignoring team orders to take a spot kick ahead of the latter, who is their designated penalty taker.

Mbappe turned down the chance to join Real Madrid and penned a new three-year contract with PSG earlier this summer, and the 23-year-old now allegedly has a greater say in how the club operates both on and off the pitch.

Neymar celebrates scoring for Paris Saint-Germain on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

With PSG aware of Mbappe's thoughts on Neymar, Marca reports that PSG attempted to find potential suitors for the Brazilian and they offered him to Pep Guardiola's Man City.

However, the Premier League champions turned down the chance to sign the former Barcelona forward as they had no intentions to recruiting a player who could potentially change the dynamic within the dressing room.

The Citizens also had no interest in bolstering their attacking options further, as they had already added Erling Braut Haaland to their ranks, while Julian Alvarez was signed in January and has now linked up with the first-team squad.

Meanwhile, a separate report claims that Neymar was also offered to Chelsea, who were in the market for a new forward, but instead opted to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.

Neymar, who has been with PSG since joining for a world-record fee in 2017, insisted last month that was keen to remain at the Parc des Princes this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Neymar during training on February 10, 2022 © Reuters

"I want to stay at Paris Saint Germain," Neymar told AFP. "No one from the club told me anything about the plans for my future, as things stand. I don't know what kind of plans they have for me – I want to stay."

PSG head coach Christophe Galtier also expressed his desire to keep hold of the Brazilian, telling reporters: "I've always been clear that I want him to stay. There are many games until the start of the World Cup and there will be a need for us to rotate.

"In addition to our starting lineup, I want there to be five players with the same potential who can come in. There will be time for everyone to feature. I know where Neymar can be more comfortable, like Messi.

"They are players with a great ability to find themselves between the lines and be decisive."

Neymar has made an exceptional start to the 2022-23 campaign for the reigning Ligue 1 champions, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in just six games across all competitions.