FC Cincinnati have missed their chance to sign one of football’s most recognisable names after talks with Neymar collapsed without a deal being reached.
The Brazilian icon has officially walked away from negotiations with the MLS club, according to a report from The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, ending what had been a surprising pursuit.
Cincinnati sporting director Chris Albright and president Jeff Berding had visited Neymar and his father back in April, raising hopes that a landmark signing could be on the cards.
Despite that personal visit, the Eastern Conference club reportedly never followed up with an official offer to Neymar’s camp, leaving the situation to stall and ultimately fall apart.
The frustration on Neymar’s side grew as talks failed to advance, with the forward left unhappy at the lack of meaningful progress toward any agreement over a move to TQL Stadium.
It marks a significant missed opportunity for Cincinnati, who had the chance to pull off one of the most eye-catching signings in MLS history.
Neymar recently made a long-awaited return to action for Brazil after an absence of 981 days, playing his part in a comfortable 3-0 win over Scotland for the Seleção.
That performance will only have reinforced his desire to continue playing at a high level, and his camp will now assess what options are available for the next chapter of his career.
His current deal with Santos is winding down, and he is said to remain open to the possibility of making a move to MLS once that contract expires.
The league has been steadily building its global appeal in recent years, attracting a string of high-profile names, and officials will be hoping Neymar still chooses American football as his next destination.
FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, will need to look elsewhere as they continue their push to strengthen the squad and remain competitive in a tough Eastern Conference landscape.
The door on a Neymar move to MLS has not been fully closed, but Cincinnati’s window has firmly shut after failing to table a concrete offer.
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