3 reasons why Neymar's departure was good for Barcelona

#1 Accommodation troubles

Valverde has effectively changed Barcelona's traditional 4-3-3 formation

For almost a decade, Barcelona had played in a conventional 4-3-3 formation, until Valverde took over in 2017.

The boss has been deploying the troops in his favored 4-4-2 formation, unless the opposition's style of play demands a change in the tactics.

With Sergio Busquets sitting in front of the defence, a deep lying playmaker in the form of Ivan Rakitic or Paulinho accompanies him in a central midfield of two.

On the wider areas of midfield, Coutinho and Dembele/Iniesta generally start to give the team much-needed width. While Suarez leads the line, Messi plays in the traditional No. 10 role, behind him.

It would be much of a conjecture to say that Valverde would have changed his formation, had Neymar been there at the club.

Moreover, the Brazilian would have been a total misfit had he been playing in the wider midfield roles as the forward two would have been occupied by Messi and Suarez.

Valverde could have been facing a Jose Mourinho moment, where he would be having the problem of plenty.

Apparently, PSG have saved Barcelona and their manager some serious trouble by swaying Neymar away.