According to reports, Brazilian superstar Neymar is unhappy at Paris Saint-Germain after joining them last summer from Barcelona. Neymar is ready to return back to the La Liga, with Real Madrid reportedly ready to break the bank for the former Barcelona ace.
Neymar swapped Barcelona for PSG last August for a world-record fee of €222million but a return to Spain looks highly possible in the future.
The 26-year-old is considered as one of the best players in Europe. Initially bought to replace Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Neymar spent four seasons and carved a niche out of himself at Camp Nou. With Messi firing on all cylinders without showing any signs of slowing down, the Brazilian left the club last summer.
With reports swirling around that Neymar is a priority signing for Real in the summer transfer window, this is how he could slot in at the Santiago Bernabeu if a move goes ahead.
Playing on the left-wing in a 4-3-3
Neymar usually plays on the left and has the tendency to cut in and shoot or create openings for his teammates. While Cristiano Ronaldo has turned himself into a full-fledged striker, the vacant left-wing position could be occupied by Neymar, with Gareth Bale or Marco Asensio on the right.
Neymar, Ronaldo and Bale can form a holy trident at Santiago Bernabeu!
As a second striker in a 4-4-2 diamond
Karim Benzema’s days are numbered, with him having failed to deliver now for two seasons running.
The Frenchman was once considered as one of the deadliest strikers but he has simply lacked confidence and composure in front of goal. With Benzema no more a ruthless centre-forward, it is time for Real to move on from him.
Zidane often switches from the standard 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 diamond formation. When Zidane uses the latter, Isco takes the playmaker’s role, while Ronaldo and Benzema start up front.
Signing Neymar would be fruitful as the Brazilian can also play centrally and without any shadow of doubts, replace the out of sorts Benzema. Neymar is a clinical forward capable of finishing off chances in a flash.
With Isco as the playmaker and Ronaldo as the partner, the Brazilian could wreak havoc against the opposition.
As a No.10 in a 4-2-3-1
Zinedine Zidane is not a fan of the 4-2-3-1 formation but should he leave, the new manager could prefer the same. The 4-2-3-1 formation is the most basic in modern-day football, with a lot of managers favouring it.
What makes Neymar a superstar is his versatility, as the Brazilian is capable of taking any position in the attack. Be it on the left or on the right-wing, as a second striker or as a false-9, Neymar never ceases to dazzle.
With Unai Emery using a 4-2-3-1 at PSG, Neymar is accustomed to it. However, at Real, he can also line up behind the main striker and create opportunities at a premium rate for his teammates to feast on.
Neymar as a playmaker with Ronaldo up top sounds very exciting, doesn’t it? While there is a big possibility of Real signing Neymar as a replacement for Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar will deliver for a couple of years more at the top-level. Neymar could be the one to replace Ronaldo at the Bernabeu but is too early to make a call.
At 26, Neymar has grown into one of the best attackers in world football and could go on to rule the Bernabeu in the future.