COMMENT: Neymar, mumps and Manchester United. This will be the gift that keeps on giving.
It doesn't matter if Neymar remains a Barca player when the transfer window shuts on Tuesday. Manchester United and Ed Woodward have marked Barcelona's card.
Every little spat with coach Luis Enrique. Every little leak about new contract delays. It's all going to be magnified thanks to Woodward's enquiry about that €190 million buyout clause.
And we know he'll be back in Barcelona in the coming weeks. The United executive vice-chairman may've left the city last Monday without Pedro, but he did collect two complimentary tickets to the Barcelona museum. Just interested? Or a clever cloaking strategy for Woodward's next round of negotiations with the European champs?
Making it all the more riveting is the news broke with Neymar out of the picture suffering mumps. The anticipation of seeing Neymar in action tomorrow against Malaga - his first appearance of the season - will be at boiling point.
At the Nou Camp, there he'll be - the €190 million man. Potentially the richest transfer we've seen in the game. And adding to the occasion, it'll also be Neymar's first competitive appearance since his red card against Colombia in the Copa America.
Which is where this story could become a saga for Barcelona.
Last season's Treble was an incredible achievement, particularly considering the controversies that occurred off the pitch. And Neymar was a big contributor to all the drama. It's still dragging on into this season, with his transfer from Santos being investigated by the Spanish High Court. But step away from the legal issues, there's still his discipline problems and his tense relationship with Luis Enrique.
In a Barcelona shirt, surely we'll never see a repeat of his meltdown against Colombia? But what - or whom - would prevent it? Neymar was the captain of his country, the Selecao's No1 leader and with the responsibility that goes with it. Yet, that didn't make him pull back as the red mist descended.
Who'll keep him on the straight and narrow at Barca? Xavi, with all that experience and influence, has now gone. The relationship with Luis Enrique - on the player's side - is more out of necessity than respect. It could be a powder keg waiting to explode.
And then there's his status at Barca. Neymar is a member of the world's best trio of attackers - perhaps the greatest - we've seen, but he's found himself strictly the third wheel. The media recognised as much just yesterday when naming Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in their top three for UEFA's Best Player in Europe award.
In Brazil, they're saying one of the big selling points Woodward has made to intermediaries is that with United, Neymar would arrive as their No1. He would effectively become the most important player, for the biggest club in the world, playing in the most popular competition on the planet. With Wayne Rooney hitting 30 this season, the future of United would be built around Neymar. Unlike today with Barca, every player would arrive to bring out the best in the Brazilian. He'd not be second best to anyone.
Wagner Ribeiro, Brazil's very own super agent, claims Neymar and Barca have no intention of parting company. But the problem is, Ribeiro really wouldn't know. When it comes to Neymar and his father, Ribeiro's been out of the loop for some time - particularly regarding contract matters. It's Neymar Snr who now handles all negotiations - and who Barca will go to when it comes time to discuss a new deal.
At Barca, he's paid handsomely - €10.5 million-a-year. But Neymar is still behind his trident pals Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. Even Daniel Alves, who he leads with Brazil, earns more at Barca than the Selecao captain.
And when he and his father cast their eye to the Premier League, they must know they're losing money every day they spend in Spain.
Thomas Muller, the Bayern Munich striker, has also attracted serious enquiries from United this summer. The Manchester giants willing to pay him £250,000-a-week to make the move. That's €16.5m-a-year. Kevin De Bruyne, the exciting Wolfsburg winger, is due to sign for Manchester City before next week's deadline, tempted by a mooted salary of €20 million. The Belgian is a great talent, but he's not Neymar.
And this the twist in the entire United story. If Woodward and United are prepared to meet Neymar's buyout clause - plus hand him a salary to match such world record stature - what can the club's bean counters see down the line to make it such a worthwhile deal?
As ground-breaking the Neymar transfer would be; it may just be the tip of iceberg. Boardrooms across Europe should be concerned. If Barca cannot prevent Neymar from quitting for England, what chance for the rest?
And it could all kickoff when Woodward returns for that scheduled museum visit.
More:
Neymar to Man Utd: What the legends have to say about €190M deal