Marcelo Says He Believes Neymar Will Play for Real Madrid Amid Transfer Rumours

Real Madrid defender Marcelo said on Sunday he believes Neymar will play for the club one day, amid speculation the Brazilian could leave Paris Saint-Germain and move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I think Neymar will play for Real Madrid one day. Would Neymar fit at Real Madrid? He would fit, for sure. It would be great if he came to Real Madrid. In my opinion the great players have to play at this club," Marcelo told Esporte Interativo (h/t Marca's Virtudes Sanchez).

Neymar left Real Madrid's rivals Barcelona in the summer to join PSG and has been a huge hit in the French capital. The Brazil international has 19 goals and 11 assists in 18 Ligue 1 starts to help his side top the table.

Opta compared his form to his time at Barcelona:

However, there have been problems for Neymar as he has clashed with team-mate Edinson Cavani and was booed by his own supporters after refusing to allow the Uruguayan to take a penalty in January. Had Cavani scored the spot-kick, he would have become the club's record goalscorer, per Metro's Coral Barry.

PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot has said Neymar "receives certain privileges" but added he is not jealous of his team-mate, per Marca.

Neymar is paid substantially more than any PSG player, according to L'Equipe (via Get French Football News):

However, Neymar's relationship with his team-mates does appear to have improved, and he may have learned from Cavani, according to ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson:

Meanwhile, Real Madrid want to sign Neymar and are willing to spend big to land him in the summer, according to Marca's Carlos Carpio. 

However, PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi is adamant Neymar will not leave the club. Per Canal+ (h/t Football Espana), he said: "There's no chance of him leaving at the end of this season, not 100 per cent, not even 2,000 per cent."

Neymar is set to face Real Madrid with PSG in the 2018 UEFA Champions League last 16, with the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

There will be huge pressure on the 26-year-old to deliver against the European Cup holders, as his prime reason for leaving Barcelona appeared to be his desire to step out of Lionel Messi's shadow and lead his own team to glory.

The outcome of the match may have ramifications for Neymar's future. The Champions League represents Real Madrid's only remaining realistic hope of silverware this season. If they were knocked out, the defeat may intensify their efforts to spend big this summer, with the Brazilian seemingly already a top target.