Ever since his record-breaking €222 million transfer from Barcelona to PSG, Neymar has harbored a longing to return to his former stomping ground at Camp Nou. Throughout the years, the allure of his unforgettable time with Barcelona has been a constant pull for him.

During this summer, after amicably parting ways with Paris Saint-Germain, rumors swirled about Neymar’s potential comeback to Barcelona. However, recent developments indicate that his impending move to Al-Hilal is becoming more concrete, signifying that the dream of Neymar reuniting with Barça is fading away.

Neymar unwilling to arrive as long as Xavi is in charge

Neymar’s anticipated transfer back to Barcelona faced a major setback largely due to Xavi’s lack of enthusiasm for the deal. Despite significant interest from some members of the Barca board, the coach was not in favor of the signing.

According to reliable sources like Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go Podcast, Neymar has now explicitly expressed that he will not consider a return to Barcelona as long as Xavi remains the manager. This decision seems to be fueled by the fact that Xavi held reservations about Neymar’s potential return and did not provide the necessary approval until the very end of negotiations.

This situation has likely created a sense of resentment in the 31-year-old Brazilian star towards Xavi’s stance. Neymar was keen on reuniting with Barcelona and was vocal about his desire to make it happen. Even Sergi Roberto, one of the team’s captains, shared Neymar’s excitement about the prospect of wearing the Blaugrana jersey again.

However, Xavi’s concerns about Neymar’s attitude and off-field issues led him to prioritize maintaining the dressing room’s harmony. As a result, Neymar’s return plans fell apart. Given these circumstances, it’s understandable that Neymar has now declined any potential return to Barcelona as long as Xavi is at the helm. Xavi’s role in essentially blocking his comeback has evidently had a significant impact on Neymar’s stance.