Luis Enrique inclined to give Neymar second chance at PSG | OneFootball

The never-ending transfer saga over Neymar’s future at Paris Saint-Germain has taken a new twist as the Brazilian could end up staying in France against the odds.

New PSG boss Luis Enrique is familiar with the 31-year-old’s qualities and is ready to offer him a fresh start at the Parc des Princes, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.

Following another injury-hit campaign followed by Lionel Messi’s exit, the most expensive player in football history was pondering an escape from the Ligue 1 title holders.

A group of PSG ultras arranged protests outside the forward’s Paris home in May, letting him know about their feelings for his lacklustre showings and infuriating proneness to injuries.

Having fallen out of favour with the club’s faithful and hierarchy, Neymar’s time in Ligue 1 seemed close to expiring, but Enrique’s appointment as the new manager could change the narrative.

Neymar was one of the protagonists of Barcelona’s famous treble-winning campaign under the Spanish tactician in 2014/15, forging a formidable attacking partnership with Messi and Luis Suarez.

Although he may have left Spotify Camp Nou on bad terms only two years later, the Santos academy graduate still carries fond memories of his time with Enrique.

And the feeling is mutual as the former Spain boss hopes to turn Neymar’s fortunes at PSG around by handing him a crucial place in his system now that they face a grave risk of losing Kylian Mbappe.

With Messi gone and Mbappe sending mixed signals over his long-term prospects in Paris, cutting Neymar loose would be a huge loss that may threaten to harm the club’s image on a larger scale.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi could be running out of patience with the Brazilian superstar, but dismantling his household trident in one summer would be a radical move.

Les Parisiens have yet to hear from Mbappe after forcing him to decide on his future, and it’s hard to believe they’d let Neymar leave before finding out more about the Frenchman’s plans.