“For f**k’s sake. Have you got nothing else to talk about?” was Neymar’s recent response when asked about wild speculation linking him with a transfer to Real Madrid. No, is now the Spanish media’s resounding answer.
On Monday, Spanish daily sport newspaper MARCA released an exclusive interview with Barcelona marksman Luis Suarez. Questions No. 3 and 4 in the piece: “Do you think Neymar was right to leave Barcelona?” and “There was speculation that he may one day sign for Real Madrid.”
Question four isn’t even a question, it’s just the Madrid-based paper laying pipe for Neymar’s transformation into a galáctico, but the Uruguayan striker was reasoned in his response while issuing a “se queda” for Paris.
“Neymar is a mature person who was fully aware of the decision he made,” Suarez said. “Surely he made it with a lot of pain because he was happy here. But, we all have to accept that he was thinking of other challenges and that he wanted to take them on. It was an understandable decision that he took with his family. There is no reproach, but admiration and love for everything that he gave the club and the relationship we had throughout those years."
So does Suarez foresee a Neymar switch to the Bernabeu?
“Not at all," Suarez said. "Honestly, I don’t see it. I know what Neymar is like and the admiration he had for Barcelona and his teammates. I don’t see him going to play for Real Madrid.”
While Suarez can’t see it happening, Neymar’s own father believes that it’s impossible to predict.
“Things can change a lot,” Neymar Senior told Fox Sports. “Right now, there is no thought and answering this is just discussing an impossibility. I can’t talk about negotiations in five or six years. Neymar has a lengthy contract at PSG and has just arrived. We’ve been here for three months and there is already talk of an exit. It is difficult to talk about these things.”
While the circus surrounding Neymar shows no signs of ever abating (perhaps an inevitability when you’re the world’s most expensive footballer by a 2x margin), Barcelona has enjoyed a strong start to the 2017-18 season, although Suarez’s own numbers haven’t been great by his own lofty standards.
“These streaks, situations, symptoms, they are times when you aren’t in good form and you yourself are aware that no matter what you do, the ball won’t ever go in,” Suarez said. “I am very self-critical and I feel bad for not scoring.”
Suarez got his sixth league goal of the campaign on Saturday in Barca’s 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo.
GOAL!
@TeamMessi and @JordiAlba combine before teeing up @LuisSuarez9 to execute with "extreme prettiness" #BarcaCelta— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) December 2, 2017
He's still looking to open his Champions League account this season with Barcelona hosting Sporting on Tuesday in their final group stage match.
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