The upcoming summer is set to be a thrilling one, with all eyes on where Neymar will ultimately end up playing. The Brazilian superstar is currently revitalizing his career in his home country, determined to be in top form for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, which is likely to be the culmination of his illustrious career with the Brazilian national team, for whom he is the all-time leading scorer. As he approaches his 33rd birthday, Neymar is contemplating a return to the city where he was once idolized – Barcelona. His departure from the club in 2017 left a gaping void, and the hefty transfer fee of 222 million euros has yet to be matched by any subsequent signing. Notably, Barcelona has not won a Champions League title since Neymar’s departure, a drought that has left fans eager for a return to glory.
As we look ahead to potential second acts in the history of the club, it’s worth examining some notable examples.
Past Second Acts at Barcelona
One such case is that of Hristo Stoichkov, the Bulgarian striker who spent five seasons at the club between 1990 and 1995, earning a reputation as a fan favorite and a thorn in the side of arch-rivals Real Madrid, even winning the Ballon d’Or during his time at the club. After a brief stint with Parma in Italy, Stoichkov returned to Barcelona, where he remained until 1998. However, his second spell was not as successful as his first, with a significant drop in goals and overall impact – 9 goals in 41 games, compared to 108 goals in 214 appearances during his initial period.
Another example is Iván de la Peña, the highly touted midfielder who spent three seasons at Barcelona before being sold to Lazio for 15 million euros. Despite his promise, de la Peña failed to establish himself in Italy or France and eventually returned to Barcelona two years after his initial departure. However, he played only 12 games and failed to make a significant impact, ultimately leaving the club as a free agent and finding success with local rivals Espanyol.
In contrast, Gerard Piqué’s second act at Barcelona was a resounding success. Having developed in the club’s youth academy, Piqué initially signed with Manchester United, where he coincided with a young Cristiano Ronaldo. After a five-year absence, during which he was loaned to Real Zaragoza, Piqué returned to Barcelona and embarked on a highly successful and fruitful second stint with the club, one that eclipsed his initial period.
Cesc Fábregas’s story bears some similarities to Piqué’s. Having come through the ranks at La Masía, Fábregas signed his first professional contract with Arsenal, making his Premier League debut at just 16. He later joined Barcelona in 2011 for a fee of 30 million euros, scoring 42 goals in 151 games over three seasons.
Jordi Alba’s journey is another intriguing one. Developed at La Masía, Alba had to leave the club to find opportunities, eventually joining Valencia and establishing himself as one of the top left-backs in Spain. After a seven-year absence, Alba returned to his boyhood club for 14 million euros and has since become an integral part of the team, earning a reputation as one of the best left-backs in Barcelona and Spanish national team history.
Denis Suárez, a Galician midfielder, had a relatively low-key first stint at Barcelona, playing for the reserve team in the 2013/14 season. He then embarked on a series of loan spells with Sevilla and Villarreal before returning to Barcelona in the 2016/17 season as a full member of the first team. Suárez played 71 games over two seasons, becoming a reliable rotation player during his second spell.
Lastly, there’s the case of Gerard Deulofeu, a Barcelona youth academy product who made his debut with the first team in the 2011/12 season. Despite being hailed as a great promise, Deulofeu found it difficult to break into the starting lineup due to intense competition, leading to loan spells with Everton and Sevilla. He eventually joined Everton permanently in 2015 for six million euros, only to be re-signed by Barcelona two years later. Deulofeu played 17 games and scored two goals before being transferred to Watford the following summer.
As the football world waits with bated breath to see where Neymar’s next move will take him, these examples serve as a reminder that second acts can be just as compelling as first impressions. Will Neymar’s potential return to Barcelona be a triumphant one, or will it mirror the mixed results of his predecessors? Only time will tell.
