According to RAC Sports, Barcelona are ready to submit an official bid for PSG star Neymar. It is believed that the club officials have decided to try and re-sign the PSG winger during a meeting. The Catalans will have to splash a lot of cash if they are to sign Neymar, which would likely pave the way for a few players to leave the club.
Barcelona have already gotten rid of Philippe Coutinho, who joined Bayern Munich on loan. And in this article, we will talk about three more players the club should offload in their bid to sign Neymar this summer.
Ousmane Dembele
The addition of Antoine Griezmann has undoubtedly played a key role in complicating Barcelona’s talks to sign Neymar, largely due to the financials involved. But, it could also take a toll of Dembele’s first-team chances, especially if the Brazilian ends up returning to Catalonia this summer.
The fact that both Griezmann and Neymar like to play out wide will nullify the need of Dembele, with Barcelona already having a guaranteed starter in Lionel Messi. That means the Frenchman will have to contend with a place on the bench while Ernesto Valverde utilises him as a super sub. And it is not healthy for the player’s development, especially considering how much talent he actually possesses.
A move to PSG could make a lot of sense, and it will be interesting to see if the Catalans manage to include him in sort of a player plus cash deal to sign Neymar.
Arturo Vidal
Vidal is among the most unwanted players at Barcelona right now. The Chilean international enjoyed a decent first season in Spain, featuring in 33 league matches. His contributions in the middle of the park helped Barca retain their dominance in Spanish football.
However, it’s unlikely Valverde will consider him as a key part of the squad, following the arrival of Frenkie de Jong. The youngster from Ajax is expected to become the face of the Barcelona midfield in the coming years and could play a huge role in minimising Vidal’s gametime this season.
But most importantly, at the age of 32, the ex-Bayern Munich star is nearing the final phase of his career. Hence, a move away from Nou Camp makes total sense.
Rafinha
Rafinha was once regarded as one of the best young players in Spain when he first broke out of the La Masia youth academy. However, the Brazilian never really managed to make an impact, having made only 88 competitive appearances for Barcelona during his six-year spell with the first-team.
The 26-year-old has always been overshadowed due to the presence of players like Ivan Rakitic and even Messi. Although the midfielder impressed in the defeat to Athletic Bilbao, it’s unlikely he will receive a lot of chances in this new campaign.
Therefore, much like his brother, a permanent move away from Barcelona might be the best solution for Rafinha as he aims to revive his career this season.
