NEYMAR has lifted the European Cup, struck the winning penalty that finally elevated Brazil to the gold medal podium at an Olympics, graced three World Cups in three different continents and remains the game's record transfer.
Yet many will pause, hesitate or demur about mentioning him in the same breath as Brazil's immortals. He could, and should, have been in that pantheon but he continues to disappoint.
Neymar may have felt railroaded into joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 but he still downgraded from Barcelona for a meretricious club that is now counting the cost of their galactico era. Neymar and Messi are gone and Kylian Mbappe is going, sooner or later.
Some did their utmost to treat the notion of his joining United seriously a few months back and Erik ten Hag did not discredit the rumours. Call it Dutch diplomacy.
The Reds boss used a stock phrase: "When we have news we will tell you." Those unfamiliar with it and incapable of conducting research ran with that as if a deal was imminent.
There was also the connection tenuous of the Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani's offer to buy United.
The PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is an associate of Sheikh Jassim's.
Denne historien er fra August 17, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
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Denne historien er fra August 17, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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