Neymar is reported to be in "preliminary talks" with three Major League Soccer sides — but it will be interesting to see which teams are willing to open up their chequebook for the global superstar.
An overnight report from ESPN claims Chicago Fire are one of the teams beginning a dialogue with the Brazilian, who starred at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain and currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
They are no stranger to marquee signings, having previously recruited the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Brazil superstar and Al Hilal attacker Neymar is in preliminary talks with three MLS sides, including Chicago Fire FC, over a proposed move, sources told ESPN. https://t.co/6XHQq0bD2q
— ESPN (@espn) January 16, 2025
Which MLS sides are talking to Neymar?
It has been claimed by multiple sources over recent weeks that one of the United States franchises in the mix along with Chicago Fire is David Beckham co-owned Inter Miami, the current club of Neymar's former teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and new head coach Javier Mascherano.
Given the links and Miami's ambition, it's easy to assume they are one of the two unnamed sides, while the third is anyone's guess at this stage.
There are some tempered expectations at this stage to keep in mind regarding Neymar's potential prospects of making a switch to MLS. Paul Tenorio and Mario Cortegena of The Athletic have reported that a move at this point seems "unlikely" and that MLS is "not currently a priority" for Neymar.
However the subject of Messi is linked to the biggest stumbling block, per reports.
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How much does Lionel Messi earn at Inter Miami?
L'Equipe out of France (via Bein Sports) are saying that Neymar wants a salary similar to or better than Messi's current MLS deal.
The Argentine great is believed to be on a base annual salary of $12 million, which can rise as high as $20 million with bonuses and incentives.
And Mascherano has been on record as saying that adding Neymar to his super squad is "impossible" in the current climate, given the rules and regulations within the league.
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Who else wants to sign Neymar?
Neymar has also been strongly linked with a return to Brazil and his boyhood club Santos.
Though these reports surfaced months ago, there has been very little in the way of positive movement in that direction so far.