So, the new Nou Camp? All €600 million of her. Will this be the stadium Manchester United helped build?

So, the new Nou Camp? All €600 million of her. Will this be the stadium Manchester United helped build?

Jose Maria Bartomeu was adamant at the unveiling of Barcelona’s new stadium project: they will not go into debt to complete it. And the team will not suffer – no matter the €600 million needed to fund the plans.

But with no major sponsor locked in – and even renewing their controversial deal with Qatar Airways now on shaky ground – the money is going to have to come from somewhere…

Step forward Ed Woodward and Manchester United.


No matter how far short their funding plans fall. No matter how long negotiations with a new kit sponsor drag on. Bartomeu and his board can be sure of one thing. Barca can rake in a third of the money needed to cover the new stadium by selling Neymar to United.

Last summer’s attempt by Woodward wasn’t the stuff of football fantasy. Bartomeu has spoken of United’s bid to prise Neymar away. As has his Dad. And even the player, himself. Woodward and United’s marketing men had done the math. The €190 million required to match Neymar’s buyout clause can be made back. It would be money well spent. And their opinion remains the same today.

Where things have changed are in Barcelona – and also among Neymar’s camp.

For all the talk of Neymar ‘secretly’ signing a new deal before Christmas, there’s been no confirmation from either side. Indeed, only last week Jordi Mestre, a Barca vice-president, insisted Neymar would put pen to paper soon. But there remains a wall of silence from Neymar’s end of the table.

Wagner Ribeiro, the Brazilian super agent, declared last week Neymar would indeed ink terms. But Ribeiro is no longer connected to the player’s camp. Everything Neymar does is now handled by his father. And Neymar Snr, while insisting his son is proud to play for the Blaugrana, has been reticent making any assurances about committing to a new agreement.

It’s been a good week for the Brazil captain. Goals in each of the last two games have eased the criticism which has come his way – not only from the Madrid press, but also their Catalan counterparts. And even his fellow pros. The low point of months of vitriol and anger came in the aftermath of defeat at Valencia. A bitter clash with Antonio Barragan, a lobbed water bottle and accusations of comparing bank accounts portrayed Neymar as the ultimate footballing villain. That we even had Ribeiro declaring he was demanding permission to play in both the Rio Olympics and Copa America only added to the apparent exasperation inside the Barca boardroom. There were even suggestions he’s deliberately distancing himself from Lionel Messi…

Goals against Sporting Gijon and Deportivo La Coruna have dulled the spotlight. But the irony is, this week’s circumstances have actually strengthened United’s hand.

Neymar, amongst Barca’s celebrated trident, is now strictly the third wheel. Last season, as they romped away with the Treble, the Brazilian had come to accept he’d always be in the shadow of Messi. But now he’s being outshone by Luis Suarez, who is making himself indispensable. While Neymar can boast those goals this week, Suarez hit eight in the two same games, taking the lead from Cristiano Ronaldo, at Real Madrid, in the race for the Pichichi and European Golden Boot. If it came to a straight choice of the Uruguayan or Neymar to be sacrificed this summer, a majority on the Barca board would vote for the Brazilian.

But the opinion of Barca’s directors isn’t what drives Neymar. And this is where United have the advantage. The Brazilian – and his father – is craving recognition. He wants to be winning Ballon d’Ors. To be regarded as the best in the world. To have Barca – like Brazil – being set up to bring the best out of him. Neymar can handle sacrificing himself for Messi. But with Suarez now driving Barca forward – just as he did with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool – Neymar finds himself increasingly becoming a footnote in this season’s story.

And that impression can only have been exacerbated last week when his father was informed their demands must be slashed if a new deal is to be struck. With Suarez and Messi also due for new contracts, Neymar has been told he can’t expect the club to match what Woodward and United are willing to offer. Again, just as on the pitch, Neymar is being told – this time from the boardroom – to take a back seat and accommodate Messi and Suarez.

In contrast, United have told Neymar Snr they not only want to build the team around his son, but also the entire club. The Brazilian will become the global face of Manchester United. Wayne Rooney will be captain, but Neymar will be the main man. A situation he’d welcome.

“He is one of the best. His technique, his strength, his ability to score many goals – he could be Brazilian,” Neymar has said of Rooney. The pair are now on friendly terms. Rooney’s son Kai had a day out at La Masia earlier this season with the Brazilian playing host.

And what of Jose Mourinho and his pending arrival at Old Trafford? Again, Neymar would welcome the chance to work with the Special One, breaking Barca ranks to talk up their great nemesis earlier this year: “I am an admirer of (Pep) Guardiola and of Mourinho. I have followed his work for many years.”

If United meet his €190 million buyout clause, Barca will be powerless from preventing Neymar moving on. Last summer, Woodward was prepared to do it. But Neymar Snr made it clear United would be wasting their time.

The money is still there. The team and marketing plans still in place. The difference now is the relationship between Neymar and the Barca boardroom.

No matter what is said in public, the Brazilian didn’t sign up to be anyone’s third wheel.

Contributed by Chris Beattie of TribalFootball.com