Brazilian superstar Neymar seemed highly confident of winning the Champions League this season for Paris Saint-Germain as he views the victory as his way out of France. The Brazil international is said to be telling his PSG teammates that he'll be with Barcelona next season but not before getting his hands first on a UCL trophy.
A Champions League honor is not the first for the PSG striker as he experienced the same while in Camp Nou but it appeared Neymar is using the targeted win as a personal benchmark. Should he achieve the goal, it would seem that the Brazilian is convinced it's easier for him to make his way back to La Liga.
The plan to switch sides is no longer a secret as far as Neymar is concerned, and The Sun reported the PSG star has shared likelihood of him leaving soon to friends inside the locker room. The report picked up from Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo.
It is said the PSG forward looked set to make the transfer to Barca as early as this summer despite the fact he remains tied up with the Parisians until 2022. The report, however, did not mention how Neymar pictured the transfer process will play out in the next few weeks.
It was not clear too if the player's plan will depend on PSG's showing in the Champions League, like failing to win the crown will prompt him to postpone his departure from Parc des Princes.
However, the report indicated that Neymar might be willing to accept a pay cut just to make sure that his wish to play again for Barcelona would push ahead. The Brazilian has been made aware that a reunion with the Catalans will only get him an annual pay of £19 million.
In contrast, the PSG star electing to stay in Paris will win him a new deal that will pay around £45 million every year. The financial benefits of sticking with PSG might be huge but for Neymar, the promise of being happier with Barcelona seemed more compelling.
Meanwhile, a related report from Mirror stated that PSG's asking price of £155 million for Neymar could be brought down to £146 million.
This was the claim made by Wagner Ribiero, who once served as an agent for the PSG striker. Ribiero said the player's release price could be reduced as a transfer deal with Barcelona will be inside Neymar's last two years of his contract with the Parisians.
The agent insisted that FIFA rules will fully back the downgraded valuation and Neymar is willing to waive off any other fees that will complete his jump back to Barcelona before the start of the next campaign.
