5 replacements for Neymar should he leave Barcelona
Neymar is on the brink of a blockbuster move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. If he does leave, who should Barca buy in his place?
There have been rumors flying regarding the future of Barcelona’s young Brazilian star, Neymar, who is reportedly close to moving to Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee. Neymar is a world-class player, probably in the top five in the world. His presence on the field is enough to make defenders get the shakes. That type of talent is hard to find, so Barcelona could struggle to find a player to fill the enormous hole he would leave.
Neymar is a firecracker on the left-wing, ever capable of taking on a backline by himself and coming out on top. His electric pace makes him a pain to track as he is tremendous at changing speeds, catching defenders out. His ball skills are other-worldly and his love for the dramatic results in him breaking ankles all over the pitch. And do we really need to go into his finishing ability? Well, for the record, it is just as good as his dribbling.
Neymar is a special talent, but it’s easy to feel overshadowed when you’re on the same team as Lionel Messi, and Neymar now seems to want to be the biggest star on his team. If he does end up leaving, Barcelona must find a replacement. Here are five options, in no particular order.
5. Philippe Coutinho
A like-for-like replacement? Some would say so. One thing for certain is that it would be one Brazilian for another. Coutinho and Neymar are teammates on the Brazilian national team and are friends off the field. Coutinho has even been on the receiving end of an invitation to join Neymar in Paris, from Neymar himself. Clearly if Neymar thinks so highly of his Brazilian teammate, Barcelona’s interest is well placed. Barcelona have reportedly already bid for the Liverpool player this summer, but the Reds have so far refused to entertain offers.
There’s no doubt about Coutinho’s skill, both as an attacking midfielder and a winger. He is deft on the ball and his first touch is incredible. His long-range goalscoring ability makes up for the flashy skill that Neymar brings to the table. Coutinho is no Neymar, nobody on this list is. But Coutinho may be the best, and most likely, replacement for Neymar simply based on playing style.
He plays an unselfish, distributive style of soccer that empowers his teammates. Similar to Neymar, Coutinho is brilliant at setting up his teammates. At Barcelona he would be passing to Messi and Luis Suarez, not Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. Who would he rather be playing alongside. Regardless, Barcelona can see that Coutinho shares many similarities with Neymar, but he would also bring some unique strengths.
Coutinho would fit in beautifully in a pass-heavy attack, but would also bring a new threat to the table. Messi loves beating defenders and running in on goal. Suarez is a poacher who excels at finding anywhere around the box. Coutinho will bring a new threat from distance that will make Barcelona even more difficult to defend. The Liverpool man would be a great replacement, should Neymar cut ties with the Catalan club.