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The Departure Of Neymar Will Hurt Barcelona More Than You Think

The Departure Of Neymar Will Hurt Barcelona More Than You Think

Barcelona will never recreate MSN trying to replace the Brazilian winger.

Anonymous

Anonymous

How far does €222m get you these days? Further than the end of your street, we're sure. But not quite far enough to recreate the football's hottest ever trio. Even if you are FC Barcelona.

So, it happened. And we all know that it happened. We won't make you read it again.

He went, lads.

Paris Saint-Germain have nabbed him, albeit for a fortune, and Barcelona have been left empty-handed. Empty-handed if you exclude the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Gerard Piqué, that is.

But a big hole has been left behind. And filling it is going to be far trickier than you might expect. Even for a team the size of the Spanish giants.

Neymar is unquestionably one of today's greatest footballers. How many players out there are at or above his level? Three, maybe four at most?

And two of those are already loving life at Camp Nou.

Neymar
Neymar

Image: PA

So who could possibly be heading over to replace the Brazilian? Naturally names have been flying across the room. And with Barca having over €200m to play with, it's no surprise.

That sort of money can buy you anyone. Or so you'd think.

But Neymar could only ever be replaced by the top. The Ronaldo's, Bale's and Griezmann's of this world. And none of those are going anywhere.

Sadly, the likes of Philippe Coutinho aren't quite going to make the cut. No matter how much Liverpool fans like to pretend he's the Prodigal Son.

So Neymar's not getting replaced. Yes, essentially an entire new squad could be bought with that amount of money. Yes, other players will develop. Yes, out there, one day, there's going to be another Neymar Jnr.

But there's a catch.

Neymar
Neymar

Image: PA

Neymar wasn't just one individual at Barcelona. He was one third of football's most iconic trio. MSN is synonymous with footballing royalty. In just one season, it had delivered 111 goals from under 150 games. It provided 65% of the team's total. Or, in other words, 0.81 goals per game.

But, beyond the stats, it saw the combination of three of the world's greatest footballers playing alongside each other, with astonishing chemistry and breath-taking sleekness.

MSN was a rare, unique and mind-blowing combination.

It was a trio like no other.

Suarez
Suarez

Image: PA

When asked what he'd said to make MSN work, Luiz Enrique replied "Abracadabra!". They were simply magic. And taking one away destabilises that. It removes the magic. Shows over.

Barcelona lost him. And no amount of money will ever replace what he brought.

Not just in individual talent and mesmeric skill, but in the simple fact that he propped up the most lethal striking trio possibly ever seen.

Neymar will do just fine at PSG. It's Barca who'll be left behind flagging. That release clause was impossibly high for a reason, chaps. You couldn't let him go.

Prepare for the definitive reign of Los Blancos.

Words by Ben Mountain - @ben_mountain1

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Barcelona, PSG, Neymar