Football NewsBarcelona head coach Quique Setien said he hopes to manage PSG superstar Neymar someday
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The Brazilian joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 in a deal with a world record of €222 million (£198 million/$263 million) and has been consistently connected with the move back to Camp Nou since moving to Paris.

Setien wants to coach Neymar Jr.

Barcelona head coach Quique Setien said he hopes to manage PSG superstar Neymar someday. The Brazilian joined PSG from Barcelona in 2017 in a deal with a world record of €222 million (£198 million/$263 million) and has been consistently connected with the move back to Camp Nou since moving to Paris. Last summer, the Brazilian admitted that he wants to rejoin his old side and almost went ahead before it collapsed towards the end of the summer transfer window. Seten hopes that his team will be able to find a way to attract their former star. Even if it may prove financially difficult amid the coronavirus pandemic. “I would like to be able to coach him someday, as he is a top-class player. Honestly, I realized my dream in coaching Leo Messi, but I would be glad if Neymar joined us,” Setien told reporters.

Rakitic still has his role to play at Barca

Perhaps Setien will have to wait at least a year if he will coach the Brazilian. Neymar, this summer will not unite with his former side due to lack of funds available at Barcelona. The club is still striving to attract the Inter star Lautaro Martinez, and it is reported that the Catalans are trying to include several players in the swap deal to lower the price of the Argentinean. “We all know that there may be four out of five strikers who can play this job, and he is one of them,” Setien said. One of the players who was reported to be leaving the club is Ivan Rakitic, who saw his playing time reduced this season. Setien, however, said that, in his opinion, the Croatian has yet to play a role at Camp Nou.

“He’s in my plans,” Setien said of Ivan Rakitic. “I don’t know how much playing time he had this season, but he knows that I’ll be counting on him”. La Liga has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the league is restarting by mid-June when teams begin to return to individual training. Barcelona has a two-point lead over rivals Real Madrid atop the table. So Setien expressed the hope that La Liga can be completed on the field, and not finished early. “I appreciate that we will finish the season now, and anything can happen in the final rounds of the games. Even though we are currently at the top of the table, I would prefer to finish on the field for the season.”