BARCELONA are trying to sign PSG striker Neymar before the end of the transfer window, after selling him to Paris for £200million two years ago. Here’s how Ernesto Valverde could line up his Catalans in a 3-3-1-3 formation.
Barcelona are in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over the return of Brazilian Neymar to the Nou Camp.
The forward is desperate to leave the Parcs des Princes this summer, and is in favour of a move back to Barcelona.
But, the transfer window shuts on September 2, and there’s still plenty to iron out before any deal is confirmed.
If they were to sign Neymar, the Brazilian would almost certainly head straight back into the Barca starting 11, leaving with the Catalans with an extremely top-heavy team.
With Suarez, Griezmann and Messi already in the team, Valverde will likely have to make some changes
With Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi already in the team, Valverde will likely have to make some changes to his usual 3-4-3 formation.
Neymar would be operating on the left-hand side of a front three, with Suarez down the middle, and the left-footed Griezmann on the right, following his £107m move from Atletico Madrid.
That would force Messi to drop back into a kind of number 10 role, but with the flexibility to help control the centre of midfield alongside starlet Frenkie De Jong.
A player of his quality shouldn’t have a problem in adapting to his new role, and he may even prove to be more influential by seeing more of the ball in the middle of the field.
Barcelona: How Ernesto Valverde could line up his team with Neymar, if PSG transfer is completed (Image: GETTY Images/buildlineup.com)
Meanwhile, De Jong will play the centre-midfield role; specifically to sure up the defence.
He’ll have Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto alongside him, operating as wing-backs.
That’ll also give the team more width going forward, with both players tending to push forward out of habit anyway.
The back three will be formed of veteran Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and natural right-back Nelson Semedo.
Barcelona: Neymar is desperate for a switch back to the Nou Camp (Image: GETTY Images)
Semedo will be forced into playing a similar role that Kyle Walker did during Gareth Southgate’s first World Cup, in Russia.
Samuel Umtiti could fill in for Semedo - and subsequently Semedo fills in for Roberto - but the Frenchman appears to have fallen out of favour under Valverde.
This system would also provide Barca with an extremely talented bench, made up of Umtiti, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, La Masia graduate Carles Alena, Arthur, Rafinha, and Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona: Predicted line-up with Neymar if £200m transfer is completed (Image: buildlineup.com)
Barcelona predicted line-up with Neymar
(3-3-1-3) Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet; Roberto, De Jong, Alba; Messi; Griezmann, Suarez, Neymar
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