The Champions Team that Rejected Neymar

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UEFA Champions League

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PSV Napoli

21/10/25 21:00:00

3.25 3.30 2.20

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For months, Neymar was closer to Serie A than many imagined. What started as an impossible idea became a real project within Naples, a move that, if realized, would have shaken the European market. Between January and May, just as the club celebrated their long-awaited Scudetto, the Brazilian star was one of the most discussed names in the offices of Diego Armando Maradona.

The "luminous madness" that won over the board

As reported by 'Gazzetta dello Sport', the plan was born in January, driven by Giovanni Manna, sporting director of Naples. The proposal was seemingly simple but monumental in ambition: to sign Neymar Jr. to lead a project that Antonio Conte had just taken charge of. The Brazilian represented the media and footballing spark capable of elevating the team to the ranks of European giants.

Internally dubbed as a "luminous madness," a term reflecting both brilliance and risk of the endeavor. Manna, president Aurelio De Laurentiis, and Conte were involved in several meetings. They all agreed that Neymar's arrival would have been an unprecedented impact for the club.

The issue, however, was not money. The club was willing to make a considerable economic effort to bring in the former Santos and Barcelona player. The obstacle was tactical and human: how to integrate a superstar into a team that was already functioning cohesively, with players in full progression. De Laurentiis and Conte feared that his arrival would disrupt the locker room balance and hinder the development of talents like Kvaratskhelia or Osimhen.

Neymar or De Bruyne, the Neapolitan dilemma

The turning point came with the emergence of Kevin De Bruyne. Until then, Neymar was the top priority. But when the opportunity arose to sign the Belgian midfielder, the project took a radical turn. Manna even internally admitted that "the day he thought of Neymar, De Bruyne was not yet a temptation."

The decision was pragmatic. Conte believed that De Bruyne offered greater tactical balance, more in line with Naples' identity. Thus, Neymar's signing gradually moved to the background, eventually being entirely discarded. The dream of seeing Neymar shining at the Maradona's nights faded, though it made it clear that the club from southern Italy is not afraid to aim high.

The impact Neymar would have had in Serie A

Had the deal gone through, Neymar's signing would have revolutionized Serie A. His presence in the Italian championship meant a huge media and footballing leap. Not only would he have increased the league's global appeal, but he would have also brought Naples back to an international reference point.

In footballing terms, the Brazilian would have fit in as a disruptor, an artist capable of deciding matches with his magic. But it would have also posed a management challenge: maintaining the cohesion of a group that had achieved success through unity. True to his philosophy, Conte chose not to disrupt that harmony.

The return to Santos and an open future

Currently, Neymar plays for Santos, the club where he was born. After his time in Saudi Arabia, the forward decided to return home in search of playing time and peace. His performance has been inconsistent, marked by injuries, but his name still carries weight in the market.

The story leaves a clear lesson: Naples dreamed big and was close to making history. Seeing Neymar in light blue would have been a unique spectacle, a blend of talent, audacity, and fantasy. But the dream remained on paper, as a sketch of what could have been but wasn't. Neymar continues to be, for the Neapolitan fans, the star they almost touched but didn't.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El equipo de Champions que descartó a Neymar