Barcelona will fly to Paris on Tuesdayfor a highly-anticipatedChampions League round of 16 clashwith their attacking trio in the best of shapes.
However, the story could have been a lot different, as PSG almost signed one third of Barca's coveted front threethis summer, for a fee that would have made Pogba's move blush.
French radioRMCtells the story of how very serious negotiations between PSG and Neymar went last season.
It all began in November 2015, as PSG's sports director Olivier Létang met Neymar's agent Wagner Ribeiro, who alsorepresents Lucas Moura.
The discussion quickly focuses on Neymar, with PSG highly interested in signing the Brazilian superstar with Zlatan Ibrahimović's anticipated departure at the end of the 2015/16 season.
Ribeiro explained to Létang that Neymar is not really happy at Barcelona, and that he's responsive to PSG's project and ambitions.
After weeks of texts between the two men, a meeting was finally set in Brazil with the most important man in Neymar's career: his father.In April 2016, Létang flies to Sao Paulo to meet Neymar Sr and lay Paris' project out for him.
He drew outa Paris built around Neymar, whom they wanted to be the future big star of the project. With Paris' strong relationship to Brazilian players, it would have been a significant move for PSG.
Neymar's agent was seduced. In his mind, a transfer to France was the ideal solution: it might havebeen the solution to all the little problems in Neymar's career and, of course, would've made his client themost expensive player in the world.
Neymar " unbelievable goal " against #PSG #psgbarca #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/LJLBmpsQSt
Neymar Sr, however, was still skeptical. However, he ended up being convinced by his son's agent, and agreed to further negotiations with Paris.
Neymar's clan sent a list of demands to Paris that you can only bequalified as indecent: €27m net yearly wage, a villa in Paris for Neymar and his father, 10 private jet flights between Sao Paulo and Paris for Neymar and 20 more regular flights for Neymar's family. They also wanted Paris to pay a part of Neymar's penalty tax.
Paris immediately refused, and refused to go further in the negotiations without having spoken to the player.Another meeting was set on May 27, this time between Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Olivier Létang, Wagner Ribeiro, Neymar Sr and Neymar Jr in Ibiza.
PSG's president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi then was giventhe opportunity to speak directly to the player. He explained the project to him, how important he would be in it and how he would replace Zlatan as PSG's jewel.
PSG's willingness to make Neymar the most expensive player in history was clear andhis £163m buyout clause is simply not an obstacle to Qatar.Al-Khelaïfi's speech was crystal clear, and Neymar was under the spell.
Ribeiro: "I have a good relationship with PSG director Létang and I told him there's always a possibility if you go for Neymar like crazy."
Paris then madeNeymar an offer at €15m, but Nasser Al-Khelaïfi remainedunconvinced at Neymar's intentions. Did he really want to come to PSG? Or did he only want to make things move with his new contract with Barcelona?
Al-Khelaïfi's doubts were later be confirmed. Neymar's agent returned to PSG a few weeks later with new demands, and asked PSG to begin negotiating with Barcelona. Al-Khelaïfi refuses: he didn't want to talk to Barcelona until a firm agreement with Neymar has been reached.
However, the agreement never happened. Afew days later, Wagner Ribeiro tells PSG that Neymar wants to stay at Barcelona. He signs a new contract on October 21.
Neymar's side's crazy demands definitely put a curb on negotiations, and this failure is still a kick in the teeth to PSG's board. With the hope that it will be for another time.