Neymar to PSG latest: Will Barcelona forward leave? Club statement, £133m contract claims

BARCELONA insist there is no chance Paris Saint-Germain will sign Neymar – but there are conflicting reports on the forward’s future.
Barcelona have a £196million release clause in Neymar’s contract that they believe will not be triggered.
That contract was signed last October and the release clause will rise above £200m next summer.

But supposed discontent about not being top dog at Barca is claimed to be the crux of Neymar’s wish to leave.

And PSG seem determined to get their man and are prepared to shatter the world transfer record to do so.

Here’s what we know so far…
Who wants to sign Neymar?

PSG, Manchester United and Manchester City have been loosely linked with Neymar all summer.

But PSG appear to be the only club willing to act on their interest.

Yahoo Sports claim Neymar’s release clause has out-priced United, who held test-the-water talks with the player’s representatives earlier this year.

City are said to be still interested in the Brazil international but are way behind PSG in the race.

City would likely have to offload one of their current strike force to make room for the 24-year-old.

PSG, however, are yet to fully replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Swede left for Manchester United LAST summer.

Their board are determined not to repeat a season like the last, where they failed to win either the Champions League or the French title.
Has Neymar agreed to join PSG?

Spanish newspaper AS claimed on Monday that Neymar’s father was set to jet to Paris for talks with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi to discuss a possible move.

And this morning Brazilian outlet Esporte Interativo made the sensational claim that Neymar has agreed to join the Ligue 1 club.

They proposed that Neymar could complete his £195m switch within two weeks.

A host of Spanish papers, including Sport and Marca, reported that a deal could be concluded.

And further details emerged with a claim the player has agreed to sign a five-year contract worth £132.5m in total.
Could Marco Verratti be involved?




Barcelona remain interested in Marco Verratti – they confirmed that on Sunday.

But they insist no players will be lost in order to facilitate a deal.

AS claimed Verratti could be used as a makeweight in a switch for Neymar, with Barca having publicly courted the Italian earlier this summer.

One sticking point to that is who PSG would replace their midfielder with.
But could Neymar stay at Barcelona?

Yes. Contrary to the reports in Spain and Brazil, Barca’s vice-president Jordi Mestre has come out to deny the suggestion that Neymar will be sold.

Asked in a press conference on Tuesday if the player will remain at the Nou Camp, Mestre said: “200 per cent”.

Another Barca official, Jordi Cardoner, then said: “Jordi Mestre guaranteed 200 per cent that Neymar would stay at Barcelona and I refer him to his comments, we will not speculate, Neymar is and will be a player of FC Barcelona.”

Meanwhile, Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, which is usually loyal to Barca, claim they have been told by the club that Neymar wants to stay in Spain.

It is claimed his father has told the Barca board of Neymar’s intentions, while French daily L’Equipe add that a source at the Parc des Princes has rubbished suggestions the Brazil international will rock up in the French capital.
Neymar betting odds

Bookmakers began the day with Neymar at 1/5 to remain at Barcelona.

By this afternoon Neymar was odds-on to join PSG due to increased betting on the market.

Source:www.express.co.uk