Neymar could be able to secure Barcelona return from PSG next year due to FIFA loophole

Neymar failed to secure a return to Barcelona this summer from PSG, despite telling the club he wanted to leave.

Barca made multiple attempts to sign the forward, including huge swap deals, but were unable to secure his signature.

The Brazilian star even offered up £18million from his own pocket to try and push the deal through.

PSG demanded the complete fee of a reported €170m [£154m] up front for Neymar, due to the fact that they wanted to sign a replacement before the end of the window.

But Barca would only pay a smaller fee this summer – partly due to their £108m acquisition of Antoine Griezmann.

Instead, they wanted to pay part of the fee now, while exchanging Ousmane Dembele, Ivan Rakitic and Jean-Clair Todibo, and the rest of the fee next summer.

Now, despite the transfer window being closed, Barca have been handed a huge boost by FIFA in their quest to re-sign the star.

According to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Neymar will be allowed to leave PSG next summer so long as a team pays €170m [£154m].

This is due to a FIFA rule regarding player freedom, which allows players to force their way out of contracts – part of ‘The Regulations on the Statute and Transfer of FIFA Players’ in the FIFA rulebook.

According to the rule, a player can force their way out of a contract with a club once three full seasons have been played – which will be the case with Neymar next summer.

And Mundo Deportivo claims that FIFA have set this fee at €170m [£154m].

PSG had a successful window upon conclusion, as they signed Mauro Icardi on loan from Inter Milan and Keylor Navas from Real Madrid on deadline day.

Neymar was reportedly devastated when his move to Barcelona fell down.

The Brazilian forward is claimed to have burst into tears after discovering that he would not be able to return to Barcelona.

El Chiringuito claim that Barcelona contacted him early on Saturday morning to notify him that they would not be able to agree a deal with PSG.

source: express.co.uk