Source: REUTERS/Handout
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, Chicago Fire owner Joe Mansueto personally invited Neymar Junior to join the team, hoping to replicate the impact of Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami. It is reported that Mansueto and head coach Gregg Berhalter flew to Saudi Arabia with the aim of finalizing Neymar’s signing during the winter transfer window. Neymar is said to be negotiating with three Major League Soccer teams, with Chicago Fire being one of them. Signing Neymar is a key plan for Mansueto, as Chicago Fire won the MLS Cup in 1998 but has seen a decline in performance in recent years, having missed the playoffs multiple times, with their last appearance in 2017. Additionally, Mansueto’s other goal is to use Neymar’s influence to attract fans back to the stadium and replicate the excitement seen during Messi’s move to Inter Miami. Currently, Chicago Fire hopes to finalize Neymar’s signing soon, as the first round of the MLS season is set to kick off on February 24 and 25.