Raphinha tries to bring back the prodigal son: 'You just have to convince Flick'

Neymar's return operation to FC Barcelona is back on the scene, and this time it has an unexpected ally: Raphinha.

Barça's Brazilian winger, Neymar's close friend, is pulling strings internally and leveraging his good relationship with Deco. He is trying to get the club to seriously consider the possibility of bringing back the "Prodigal Son."

Joan Laporta doesn't view Neymar's return unfavorably. Although he was a signing by Sandro Rosell, he has always had a soft spot for the Brazilian star.

He keeps a good relationship with him. For Laporta, his return would be a media coup and a new source of excitement for the fans.

Willing to give up a lot of money to return

Neymar, meanwhile, would be delighted to return to Barça. The Brazilian doesn't hide that he lived his happiest years at Camp Nou, being part of that unforgettable trio with Messi and Suárez.

Now, in the final stretch of his career and after a bittersweet experience in Paris and Arabia, his dream is to close the circle in Barcelona. He would even be willing to take a pay cut to facilitate the operation.

But not everything is enthusiasm. The key to the yes or no is in the hands of Hansi Flick, the Barça coach. The German, meticulous and strict, fears that Neymar could disrupt the delicate balance of the locker room.

Flick doesn't dispute his quality, but he doubts his physical commitment and his influence on group harmony.

The third man Raphinha and Lamine Yamal need

Raphinha, however, insists. He has conveyed to Deco that Neymar can be a decisive figure both on and off the field, and that his return would unite the group. "We just have to convince Flick," they say in the club's corridors.

Deco is desperately looking for a high-level replacement for Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, with no replacements in the current squad. Neymar could be that third man who can share the minutes.

With Neymar sending love messages to Barça and Raphinha campaigning internally, the ball is now in Flick's court. The "Prodigal Son" wants to come home. Will the German coach open the door for him?