Neymar has pledged his future to Paris Saint-Germain, declaring that he is now ‘truly happy’ at Parc des Princes and effectively ruling out a return to former club Barcelona – despite having been so keen to go back there in the summer of 2019.

Barcelona tried and failed to re-sign Neymar 18 months ago, with reports at the time widely claiming that he regretted his decision to leave PSG and wanted to reunite with Lionel Messi.

Barca never had the cash to tempt PSG into selling, nor could they convince a number of their own players – including Ivan Rakitic and Ousmane Dembele – to move to Paris in a swap deal in lieu of much actual cash changing hands for Neymar.

Neymar is even alleged to have ‘cried’ when he found out that the move wouldn’t happen, although there were also claims at the time that Barca ‘were not putting all of their weight into the transfer’, knowing that they didn’t have the resources to actually go through with it.

But from being so determined to go back, the Brazilian, who turns 29 this month, has publicly stated his intention to stay at PSG because ‘things have changed a lot’.

PSG reached the Champions League final last season, edging one step closer to realising their ultimate ambition. There is also the possibility that Neymar could get his wish to reunite with Messi in Paris if the living legend leaves Camp Nou this summer, while Barcelona resources are even more shot than they were because of the club’s increasingly awful financial situation.

“I am happy today. I am truly happy,” Neymar told French broadcaster TF1.

“Things have changed a lot. I can’t exactly explain why. But today, I am feeling good. I have adapted. I am more calm and I am more happy.

“I want to stay at PSG. I also want Kylian [Mbappe] to stay. We want PSG to be a great team. I want to continue to play football and be happy, that is the most important thing.”

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