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Julien Laurens, Correspondent
Neymar is ready to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer despite having four years left on his contract, sources told ESPN.
The Ligue 1 champions tried to find him a club last summer but failed to get a real offer for the number 10 shirt. In February he turned 31 and the superstar, who is recovering from ankle surgery, didn’t want to leave the French capital. That was the case at the time, but sources say he has changed his mind in recent weeks, opening the door to a possible departure for him.
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Some 50 PSG ultras showed up at Neymar’s house last week demanding he leave the club. He added that he thinks it would be better to play elsewhere next season.
Sources say the Brazilian national team wants to move to the Premier League, home to one of the few teams that can afford Neymar’s annual salary of €40 million and cover the hefty transfer fee.
PSG paid Barcelona a €222m release clause in the summer of 2017, taking Neymar to the Parc des Princes. Whether it helps the player move.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi met with new Chelsea owner Todd Boley in February to discuss a possible Neymar deal between the two clubs. The two have been talking about Neymar since, sources said, adding that Barry is a big fan of Neymar and wants to meet him at Stamford Bridge.
Sources say Neymar is not considering a return to his native Brazil at this time, nor does he want to play for a Spanish club other than Barcelona, which he has no plans to move to for his former star.