Madrid trade talks focus on TikTok as US and China seek agreement    El Hamra Port emerges as regional energy hub attracting foreign investment: Petroleum Minister    Egypt hosts 4th African Trade Ministers' Retreat to accelerate AfCFTA implementation    Egypt's Investment Minister, World Bank discuss strengthening partnership    Israeli aggression won't bring peace, jeopardises treaties, Egypt's Sisi warns    Power of Proximity: How Egyptian University Students Fall in Love with Their Schools Via Social Media Influencers    Egypt wins Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Esna revival project    EGX closed in mixed notes on Sept. 15    Madbouly reviews strategy to localize pharmaceutical industry, ensure drug supply    EHA launches national telemedicine platform with support from Egyptian doctors abroad    Egypt's Foreign Minister, Pakistani counterpart meet in Doha    Egypt condemns terrorist attack in northwest Pakistan    Emergency summit in Doha as Gaza toll rises, Israel targets Qatar    Egypt advances plans to upgrade historic Cairo with Azbakeya, Ataba projects    Egyptian pound ends week lower against US dollar – CBE    Egypt hosts G20 meeting for 1st time outside member states    Lebanese Prime Minister visits Egypt's Grand Egyptian Museum    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Neymar leaves Barcelona without its heir to Lionel Messi
Published in Ahram Online on 03 - 08 - 2017

Barcelona is facing an uncertain future without Lionel Messi's heir apparent.
Neymar flourished alongside Messi for four seasons, and everyone in Barcelona - executives, players, fans - counted on the 25-year-old Brazil striker to eventually become the team's leader after he signed a contract extension last year through 2021.
That plan was blown away on Wednesday when Neymar told the club he wanted to leave. His representative, Wagner Ribeiro, confirmed widespread rumors that Paris Saint-Germain was ready to trigger the astonishing 222 million euro ($262 million) release clause included in Neymar's contract that would double the world record for soccer transfers.
The imminent departure of Neymar leaves Barcelona in the position of having a lot of extra cash and the clear need to shore up an aging team that has lost its second best player now, and its projected star for years to come.
Neymar is poised to become an even better player in Paris than the one who has dazzled Camp Nou with his lightning-quick feet and flair for beautiful goals.
Barcelona's other top players, however, are all eyeing the twilight of their careers. While he still hasn't lost a step, Messi is 30 and entering his 14th season. Striker Luis Suarez is also 30, and midfielder Andres Iniesta has reached 33 and is in the final year of his contract.
Iniesta considered Neymar irreplaceable, no matter how much money the club gets in exchange.
''I can't see how having 200 or 300 million (euros) is more beneficial than counting on Neymar,'' Iniesta said last weekend amid growing speculation about PSG's interest. ''He is one of the best players in the world and gives us so much.''
Neymar's departure after four seasons and 10 trophies breaks up one of the most potent strike units ever. Neymar and Messi were joined by Suarez in the summer of 2014, and the three became almost unstoppable, scoring a Spanish record for a trio of 122 goals in a season to lead Barcelona to a rare sweep of the Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles.
Barcelona's identity is based on a 4-3-3 formation with a trio of attackers up front. So the club's first priority would likely be to sign another top forward. Spanish media reports link Barcelona to Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and Borussia Dortmund's Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona could also be tempted to enter the sweepstakes for Monaco's teenage striker Kylian Mbappe, who is supposed to be on the agenda of fierce rival Real Madrid.
But the exit of Neymar offers a chance to new coach Ernesto Valverde to use his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, which he succeeded with at Athletic Bilbao and other clubs.
The luxury of having three superb strikers occasionally left Barcelona exposed at the back last season, when it outscored Madrid in the league but lost key matches that also contributed to an early exit from the Champions League quarterfinals.
Barcelona had already been after PSG midfielder Marco Verratti as it struggles to maintain its signature dominance in midfield two years after Xavi Hernandez's departure. Other rumors point to the Catalan club luring away Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho or Juventus playmaker Paulo Dybala.
Barcelona will have to pay inflated prices for players after PSG blew open the market, and potential sellers know they have oodles of cash. The club will also have to face the truth that, at his best, Neymar is only comparable to Messi and Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. The market closes at the end of the month.
Barcelona faced a similar situation in 2000 when it infamously sold Portugal midfielder Figo to Madrid. It spent the money it received on Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit. What followed was Madrid's ''galactico'' reign while Barcelona took five years before winning another Liga.
Former club president Joan Gaspart - who sold Figo - defended current president Josep Bartomeu against criticism that he let Neymar get away.
''The board is not to blame for Neymar's exit,'' Gaspart told Marca Radio. ''They did all they could to keep him. Neymar got around them just like Figo got around me.''
Neymar's anticipated departure comes with Barcelona already playing catch-up with Madrid for the first time in a decade. Madrid has won three Champions League titles in the last four years and claimed its first Spanish league title in five years in May.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.