Barcelona can blame Neymar as Laporta faces another transfer blow

Back in the summer of 2019, Barcelona decided to splurge a huge £108million on the arrival of Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid. It was a move that raised eyebrows, particularly with Lionel Messi pushing to land Neymar at the time. And, now, the La Liga giants look set to face a huge blow amid claims the Argentina international is close to securing a move to Inter Miami at the end of the campaign.In 2019, Barcelona were ticking along well under Ernesto Valverde.They had won the La Liga title that year, winning 26 of their 38 league matches, scoring 90 goals in the process and cocking up a tally of 87 points that Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid couldn’t get anywhere near.Not content with merely winning the Spanish top flight, and with Valverde craving Champions League glory, Barcelona then decided to spend big on Griezmann.But that didn’t please Messi, who had been lobbying for the club to re-sign Neymar – just two years after his devastating departure to Paris Saint-Germain.Now, nearly four years on, it’s clear that was a mistake.Want the latest football news? Join our brand new Facebook group by clicking here Barcelona chief Joan Laporta could pay the price for club’s failure to sign Neymar (Image: GETTY) Barcelona hero Lionel Messi wanted the La Liga giants to re-sign Neymar (Image: GETTY) Barcelona would have better chance of Lionel Messi return if they still had Neymar (Image: GETTY)Messi’s contract expired last summer and the Catalan giants couldn’t afford to keep him, which is why he moved to PSG.He’s now fulfilled his wish of playing alongside Neymar again and, if PSG win the Champions League this season, the move will have been a success.Had Neymar been at Barcelona, that would have been a strong pull to return to the Nou Camp.But that isn’t the case and, even though former team-mate Xavi now rules the roost, there’s not really an incentive to return. Barcelona look set to miss out on Lionel Messi with PSG star close to Inter Miami (Image: GETTY)The MLS can offer Messi a comfortable close to his career, something he’s earned due to how devastatingly brilliant he’s been over the years.And his move to America certainly seems a case of when, rather than if.Messi could, of course, choose to extend his PSG contract – with the Ligue 1 giants still hopeful of keeping him for another year.But, if they do end up going all the way in Europe, then his spell at the Parc des Princes would have been mission accomplished.