As coach I wouldn’t have wanted Neymar back, says del Bosque

The former manager of Spain, Vicente del Bosque, said he would not have brought Neymar back to La Liga if he had been coach of Barcelona or Real Madrid, although he recognizes the outstanding qualities of the Brazilian as a player.

Barcelona held several meetings with Paris St Germain to take the Brazilian back to Camp Nou two years after he left to join the French team for a world record rate of 222 million euros (£ 198 million).

But the two clubs failed to reach an agreement before the transfer window was closed on September 2, and PSG sports director Leonardo said the Spanish champions had not met the initial price of their team.

Leonardo also acknowledged that his club had spoken with Real Madrid about the forward.

Neymar has scored 51 goals for the PSG, but his two seasons in France have been affected by serious injuries in key stages of the campaign.

He also had a dispute in the field with his teammate Edinson Cavani about penalty duties.

“I think it would have been good for the Spanish league if I had returned, but if I were a club coach I would not have brought it,” Del Bosque told Spanish television network Estudio Estadio.

“While I will say that he is a brilliant player, I do not consider him very well for other reasons.”