The collateral damage caused by Neymar's renewal with PSG

The collateral damage caused by Neymar's renewal with PSG

Neymar / | sport

What does it mean for Mbappe? And for Barça, Messi... and even Haaland?

The announcement from L'Equipe that Neymar will sign a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain will have a knock-on effect in the world of football.

After months of the deal being close, it seems the Brazilian will finally extend his commitment with the French club, signing a deal until 2026 with his current terms due to expire in 2022 -- which brought the threat of him leaving for free next summer.

Neymar, whose commitment to PSG has often been questioned, appeared deeply affected by the Champions League semifinal defeat to Manchester City last week but is now ready to give it another shot with the Ligue 1 club.

But what about Kylian Mbappe, whose deal is also up in 2022?

Even though sporting director Leonardo will breathe a little easier with Neymar renewed, he now has another mammoth challenge on his hands.

There could also be consequences for Barça... and for Lionel Messi.

Bye bye Barça

Neymar was one of Joan Laporta's main targets to strengthen Barça's attack to guide them back to the top of European football. For a long time, the Brazilian has hinted at his desire to return to Camp Nou to play alongside his friend Messi again. That now seems out of the question, so Barça will have to re-work their transfer plans.

Messi?

The Argentine has still not confirmed if he will extend his Barça contract, which expires in June, and the arrival of Neymar could have been a decisive factor in getting him to commit. Now, even though it's more than likely the No.10 will stay at Camp Nou, the new board will have to look for another top player to add to the squad.

At the same time, PSG will try, once again, to tempt Messi to Paris to play with Neymar.

Haaland

Borussia Dortmund's Norwegian striker moves to the top of Barça's wishlist. The fans have always wanted him and Laporta's looked into it, meeting with his representatives. He's the striker tipped to rule Europe for a decade and Barça want to unite him with Messi. Dortmund won't make that easy. They have assured he will stay for another season, but it will rumble on all summer due to the number of clubs interested.

Mbappe

And what will happen with Mbappe? Will he follow Neymar's lead? What's clear is that the Ligue 1 top scorer's contract is up in 2022 and he's been playing cat and mouse over his renewal. He's also wanted across Europe. Real Madrid have led the chase for years. Can they sign him this summer? Can he hold on a year and join them for free?

There are a lot of unknowns regarding Mbappe's future, with Liverpool also linked. His time in Paris could be coming to an end.

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