Top six footballers to play for both PSG and Barcelona

A number of footballers have played for both clubs over the years

FC Barcelona and PSG have had many common players over the years. One of the most famous transfers between the two clubs is Neymar Jr’s transfer. PSG broke the transfer record paying €222 million for Neymar Jr. Many great players have played for both sides. Let’s take a look at the top 6 players to play for both PSG and FC Barcelona.

6. Mikel Arteta

The current Arsenal manager is not only renowned for his managerial prowess but was also quite a player. He is a La Masia graduate and has spent much of his playing career in the Premier League. Despite being a La Masia graduate, Arteta has never played for Barcelona’s main team. Nevertheless Mikel Arteta never forgot his FC Barcelona roots.

Mikel played in a much deeper midfield position where his playmaking, passing abilities and vision were utilised at it’s very best. One of his most sound and underrated trait was his leadership quality and his positional awareness. Arteta only spent a season on loan with Paris Saint Germain amassing 31 appearances.

5. Ousmane Dembele

Once one of the best talents in the world, even compared with Kylian Mbappe, Dembele has not lived upto his potential. Ousmane joined FC Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund back in 2017. The Catalonia side did not hesitate to cash in for the French winger and paid a staggering €105 million plus € 40 million add-ons.

Ousmane amassed only 40 goals and 43 assists in 187 appearances for FC Barcelona. Dembele has been injured over almost 15 times whilst at FC Barcelona. This includes minor and major injuries as well which has hindered much of his playing time. Nonetheless his ability to easily dribble, pass and shoot effectively and consistently with both feet combined with his high speed makes him a deadly player. FC Barcelona have just recently sold Dembele to PSG for just €50 million.

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

One of the best strikers of our generation. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is amongst or even better than the likes of Drogba, Benzema, Lewandowski and many more. Zlatan was already a very big name before joining FC Barcelona. He had amassed almost 200 club goals before joining FC Barcelona. Zlatan joined FC Barcelona for a season during it’s prime period. The Swedish striker scored 23 goals in 46 appearances for FC Barcelona. He was a part of one of the best side ever in the history of football and FC Barcelona.

PSG have had many big name players like Mbappe, Neymar Jr., Messi and many more. However before the Neymar Jr and Mbappe era, Zlatan Ibrahimovic led the helm at PSG. Zlatan scored 156 goals and assisted 61 times in 180 appearances for PSG. The only player alongside Neymar Jr and Ronaldinho to succeed at both FC Barcelona and PSG.

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3. Ronaldinho

What Neymar Jr is to us today, Ronaldinho was to the previous generation. Ronaldinho is arguably one of the best dribblers ever in football. His elegant and flashy dribbling style was very entertaining and very effective as well.

Ronaldinho joined PSG from Gremio back in 2001. The Brazilian legend garnered 42 goal contributions in 77 appearances for PSG across all competitions.

Before Lionel Messi took the number 10 at FC Barcelona and made it his own, Ronaldinho was Barcelona’s no 10. Ronaldinho scored 94 goals and assisted 70 times in 207 appearances for FC Barcelona across all competitions. During his time at Barcelona he won the Ballon d’Or in 2005 and the UEFA Champions League at 2006. He was arguably at his peak whilst at FC Barcelona.

2. Lionel Messi

PSG took the world by surprise when they signed FC Barcelona. Lionel Messi’s story with his childhood club ended on a very harsh note because of disastrous financial issues. PSG took note of the situation and signed Lionel Messi on a free transfer. The French outfit aligned Messi, Neymar and Mbappe in hopes to form an effective attacking trident.

Messi struggled in his first season at PSG scoring only 6 league goals. In the next season, the Argentinian scored 16 league goals and overall had 30 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. Over two seasons Messi scored 36 goals in 75 appearances for PSG across all competitions. During this period he only won the Ligue Un and failed to win the UEFA Champions League.

Despite Messi’s story with PSG, what he has achieved with FC Barcelona cements him as a legend. Lionel Messi has amassed over a thousand goal contributions at FC Barcelona scoring 672 goals and assisting 302 times in 778 appearances. He has scored 474 goals in La Liga. Messi is LaLiga’s and FC Barcelona’s top scorer and it is safe to say no one will ever come close to that record.

1. Neymar Jr

PSG broke the transfer record paying €222 million for Neymar Jr. Neymar Jr was a part of FC Barcelona’s 2015 UCL and treble winning squad. He was at his very best whilst at FC Barcelona. Neymar Jr was also very close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2015 and also in 2017. Neymar Jr scored 105 goals and assisted 76 times in 186 appearances for FC Barcelona across all competition. He formed a deadly attacking trident with Messi and Lionel Suarez which is arguably the best trio ever.

Neymar Jr opted to join PSG to get out of Lionel Messi’s shadow and try becoming the best player in football on his own. Despite him failing to win the UCL with PSG and suffering from many injuries, Neymar Jr’s tine at PSG is quite successful. Neymar garnered 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 appearances for PSG across all competitions. Despite his injury record, his statistics are staggering but not upto his full potential which says a lot about his talent.

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