Neymar must apologise to Barcelona fans if he is to return to Camp Nou, says Brazil legend Rivaldo.
Brazilian ace Neymar forced an exit from Barcelona to Paris-Saint Germain in 2017 but is now keen to return to the Catalan giants.
He has already told PSG chiefs privately of his desire to “return home,” while Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner has confirmed that the 27-year-old wants to rejoin the club.
PSG are determined to force Neymar to publicly declare that he wants a switch back to his former club with whom he won the Champions League in 2015, both as a face-saving exercise and out of a desire to recoup their initial £200million outlay.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are keen to negotiate on the price.
But regardless of negotiations between the two clubs, World Cup winner Rivaldo says there is something else that must happen before Neymar can return.
“It’s difficult because of the way Neymar left," former Barcelona player Rivaldo told Goal , courtesy of Betfair. "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 added: "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.”
