Barcelona icon Pep Guardiola says he doesn't know if Neymar would be the same player he was during his first spell in Catalonia if he returns there from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The Brazilian is pushing for a move back to the club he left in a world record move two years ago, and has reportedly informed PSG that he is prepared to go on strike to force through the transfer .
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is dismayed at the situation, but seemed to suggest that Neymar wasn't wanted at the club any more when he claimed that the club were only interested in keeping players who wanted to play for them.
Guardiola guided Barca to three La Liga titles and two Champions League during his four years in charge of the club, but he left in 2012 a year before Neymar was signed from Santos.
The forward would go on to strike up a thrilling attacking trident with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, scoring 105 goals in 186 Barca appearances before his 2017 transfer.
But speaking in Catalonia, Manchester City boss Guardiola appeared to question whether or not Neymar could repeat those successes if he went back.
"Neymar is an extraordinary player,” Guardiola told local publication Ara .
“But I don't know. It's like if I go back to Barcelona , I am not the same person, and I don't know if Neymar would be the same.
"Well, he is great, nobody doubts it."
Neymar is still sidelined with an ankle injury, which has forced him to miss out on playing for hosts Brazil at the Copa America this summer.
The forward after his former and perhaps future teammate missed a penalty in Uruguay's shootout defeat to Peru.
