Neymar has been heavily linked with Inter Miami this January as the Brazilian winger looks set to quit Al-Hilal this year.
The former PSG and FC Barcelona superstar is primed for the next stage in his career after a disastrous 18 months in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal not even registering Neymar for the second-half of the league season.
With Inter Miami keen on signing Neymar as well as MLS rivals the Chicago Fire, there is a growing chance that the 32-year-old attacker could make the move to the United States to become the next soccer superstar in America.
Yet Inter Miami have been dealt a heavy blow in their bid to sign Neymar via the winger’s former club, Santos.
Santos preparing six-month loan deal for Neymar this January
According to Globo, Santos are negotiating a six-month loan deal to bring Neymar back to Brazil 12 years after the forward left his boyhood club to join Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets at Barcelona.
With Neymar open to reuniting with Messi and Suarez, Inter Miami missing out on Neymar will come across as a huge blow for the Herons this January, especially with Javier Mascherano’s side having an open Designated Player spot to make the transfer possible.
With Inter Miami needing three factors to bring Neymar to Florida, there are some obstacles the Supporters’ Shield holders need to overcome if they’re to sign the Brazilian superstar, who could now be heading back to his former club in Santos this January.
Indeed, Santos’ pending loan offer for Neymar could be a huge blow for Inter Miami if the forward chooses to accept the deal, yet the winger returning to Brazil until the summer might not be the worst thing in the world for the Herons.
Inter Miami still have a shot at signing Neymar in the summer
With Inter Miami making five signings already this January with the Herons close to adding Maximiliano Falcon to the mix, the Florida franchise have been on quite the spending spree already this winter ahead of the new season.
And as a result, there simply might not be enough financial wiggle-room to sign Neymar this January, which opens the door of a deal potentially being made in the summer transfer window when the winger officially becomes a free-agent.
Should Neymar join Santos on loan for six months, Inter Miami will have a chance to bring in the forward having played regular football in Brazil, where the winger will be ready to feature for Mascherano’s side at the Club World Cup this summer.