Manchester United have been linked with signing Neymar this summer if Sheikh Jassim takes control of the club.
Louis Saha believes that Sir Alex Ferguson may approve of Manchester United signing Neymar this summer as long as the player is happy to settle down. The winger is reportedly expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with numerous Premier League outfits linked.
Neymar has shone throughout his career, though the Brazilian international has not managed to lift the Champions League trophy at the Parc des Princes. As a result, PSG are planning a major reshuffle that will see several big players offloaded to raise funds for new signings.
Ex-Barcelona forward Neymar is among those linked with an exit, and Sheikh Jassim is reportedly monitoring the situation in hope of making the 31-year-old his marquee signing if he becomes United owner.
Serious questions have been raised about Neymar’s attitude over the years, though Saha believes that the winger could flourish at his former club. He told OLBG: “Neymar will be an exciting signing for any club in the world. He is a top-five player in the world at the moment and the best dribbler in the world by far. Best entertainer by far. However, he will bring his own challenges with him in terms of the press and his lifestyle.
Louis Saha feels Sir Alex Ferguson would have been tempted to sign Neymar (Image: Getty)
“He is coming to a point in his life where maybe he has a point to prove. He has a baby on the way and maybe that can bring some stability into his life and he can provide more of a guarantee.
“I remember back in my playing days that Sir Alex Ferguson always liked players who had a family and who were settled. It is because you know that you can be very demanding of them and know that they will not get distracted. They have more of an open ear and they want to listen and do more for the club.”
Sheikh Jassim is plotting a busy summer at United if his takeover bid is successful (Image: Sheikh Jassim)
Chelsea and Newcastle are also one of the clubs cited as interested in Neymar, though Eddie Howe has publicly insisted that the Magpies are looking to sign young players that they can develop themselves rather than forking out on the ‘finished article’.
Erik ten Hag has successfully harmonised the United dressing room, so the addition of Neymar into the mix could be perceived as a major risk. Though Saha has insisted that the Brazil international will have no choice but to adjust to life in a more traditional dressing room if he does join United.
He continued: “Neymar has been the superstar, which is substantially due to his talent but it can also be hard to manage. He was definitely of that status in Barcelona, but maybe that has changed over the years. He could be difficult to manage. With all due respect, I don’t think he can adapt, but he will have to. It could be down to lifestyle or just how he is – but at Manchester United, they would expect much more from him because of his enormous price tag.”
