Xavi Sees 'Zero Chances' of Neymar Returning to Barcelona

Barcelona legend Xavi has said he sees "zero chances" of former team-mate Neymar moving back to the Camp Nou, although he believes he has what it takes to reach the levels of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. 

Neymar became the most expensive player in world football when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barca in the summer of 2017, one year after penning a new five-year deal with the Catalan club.

On the prospect of a move back, Xavi told Cadena Ser (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic): "I don't see it. I don't see it. I also think it didn't work out well, I don't see it in any way. I read a lot of press because I'm up to date with everything football, but I see zero chances that Neymar can return to Barcelona."

Xavi added: "If he is mature and works, he will be close to Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi. He can be decisive, but it depends on him."

Xavi played for two seasons alongside Neymar in Catalonia before he departed for Qatari outfit Al Sadd in 2015.

But while his departure ended a 17-year spell at the Camp Nou, Neymar left for €222 million and under more controversial circumstances.

Speculation has seen Neymar linked with a move back to Barca after a somewhat successful first term in Paris, and Kalinic wrote he's said to have met with club transfer advisor Andre Cury during the international break.

Part of his reason for doing so was to step out of Messi's shadow and become a superstar in his own right, but former Barcelona and Brazil defender Edmilson recently said he made the wrong decision, via Goal:

Neymar's Paris Saint-Germain won a domestic treble last season but fell out of the UEFA Champions League at the round of 16, the main competition in which Neymar will be expected to transform the club's chances.

It's been reported almost since he moved to PSG that Neymar could return to La Liga via Real Madrid. 

However, Cadena Cope has reported (h/t Football Espana) Los Blancos are ready to drop their long-term interest.

Neymar also failed to shine at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as PSG might have hoped, and writer Sam Pilger suggested his stock fell at the tournament in Russia:

Barcelona starlet Carles Alena recently left the door open to Neymar returning and told eSports Cope (h/t EP, via AS): "Ney is one of the best players in the world and obviously no one would close the door if he wanted to return. We'd be delighted if Ney came back because he'd improve Barca and all of us."

Aside from the question of Barca affording a deal, there's also the matter of PSG's willingness to sell, and Xavi doesn't envision a reunion materialising.