Rivaldo says Neymar would have to make an official apology to Barcelona fans if he completes a sensational return to Camp Nou from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
Neymar left Barca under a cloud in 2017 after PSG paid his €220 million (£200m/$262m) release clause, but after two troublesome years the French club’s hierarchy appear to be ready to send him back to Catalunya.
Rivaldo, who played for Barca between 1997 and 2002, says he wants to see Neymar back in Catalunya and believes he could help the club win the Champions League again, but realises the 27-year-old would have to rebuild some bridges before he can get back to business.
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“It’s a difficult decision,” Rivaldo tells Goal at Camp Nou, courtesy of Betfair. “It’s difficult because of the way Neymar left. I think a lot of the fans are angry with everything that happened, but football is how it is, football is good, and Neymar is a great player who has personality.
“So if he comes here of course there will be times when he is criticised by some fans, but in the games, the training sessions, Neymar will still be the same Neymar, and it could be something special for Barcelona.
He adds: "He should say sorry. Officially, yes. Say sorry, say he was wrong, say that this is his home, that he is going to be the difference.
“I think that all the fans… many will understand, they’ll see him on the pitch in the league, the Champions League, doing things well, and the fans will forgive him easily.
“If it’s like it was when he was here playing football before together with Messi and Suarez, it was great for the club. If they win the Champions League, I don’t think it will be a problem for the fans.”
If Neymar does return to Camp Nou this summer he will inevitably be charged with helping the club win the Champions League, something they have not done since the ‘MSN” frontline featuring the Brazilian, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez lifted the trophy in 2015.
Barca had looked set to reach the final this year, only to see a 3-0 first-leg lead slip through their fingers at Anfield, leading to a clamour for coach Ernesto Valverde to be fired. The club elected to stick with the former Athletic boss, and while Rivaldo says he has simply suffered from “bad luck” last season, the Brazilian does say changes need to be made when it comes to the Champions League.
Would Barcelona fans accept Neymar's return?
— Goal (@goal) June 27, 2019
Would Barcelona be better off signing Antoine Griezmann?@RIVALDOOFICIAL gives his opinion 👇 @Betfair pic.twitter.com/bIVOb1k6Yk
“They have to be more careful when they play a quarter-final or a semi-final, when they are 3-0 up! To be more careful of the fact that ties are not decided in one game, they are decided in two. You have to play with intelligence; if you win 3-0 at home you have to make some changes to play a bit more defensively.
“I am Barcelona but we have to play for the result, with the goals that they score at home, in some games away from home you can’t play how you always play. If you are 3-0 or 2-0 you can’t play in England and Italy like you would at home, you have to make some changes and hope to finish the first half 0-0 or 0-1, you have to play until the result is in the bag.”
But while Rivaldo supports Valverde, he says he would love to see Pep Guardiola return to the club as coach one day.
Guardiola won the Champions League twice in his four seasons at Camp Nou, and has since gone on to enjoy success at Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
“Always, in every team he has managed, he has done something spectacular,” Rivaldo says. “He’s such a great coach, and I hope that one day he can come back to Barcelona.
“He’s from the city, he loves the club, and if there is a chance why not? He has already shown that he’s a great coach in other countries, and now if he wants to return home I think he has the opportunity.”
As official betting partner of Barcelona, Betfair invited supporters from all around the world to play in a tournament at Camp Nou. Fans won a place by testing their Barca knowledge in a quiz named 'Beat The Elite' where they had to better the score of 1999 Ballon d'Or winner and Betfair Ambassador Rivaldo.
