Neymar's coded silence

Neymar’s thunderous silence grows louder every day. The speculation on his future are a worldwide snowball that gets bigger every day and only he can stop it. But Neymar has decided that he’s not going to for the time being, despite the fact that Barça have asked him as, as SPORT reported. Every hour that passes the player’s silence grows and becomes a message in itself and reinforces the impression that something big is happening. His hypothetical transfer to PSG has become worldwide news, reported ever more intensely in the Brazilian, English and French media because Neymar is a global icon and because this is an unprecedented transfer. However, none of this would be happening if Neymar wasn’t letting it. The real question is not whether there has been an offer but why the Brazilian is letting the snowball gather pace. It’s clear that this story is in its second phase now: the first the SPORT exclusive detailing how he was unsettled at Barça generated worldwide headlines. Now everyone knows Neymar is not happy, and the question is now how to fix the situation. Barça have been decisive from the start and have been very clear that they will not negotiate. Bartomeu yesterday confirmed that if another club wanted him they would have to pay his release fee, a logical statement but one that shows Barça are not in control of the situation. And the club has to manage the situation well, not bury their heads in the sand like some and claim it was all a journalistic conspiracy. Because there is a saga, and not a minor one: the club could be about to lose an icon. Now though it’s in Neymar’s hands. His silence says more than his Instagram posts ever could.