Barca To Neymar, Leadership Is Earned, Rules Out Sale

Jordi Mestre, Vice- President of the Spanish football club, Barcelona has ruled out reports linking their Forward Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, with a move away from the club.

Asked during a press conference if he could confirm Neymar would remain at Barca ahead of the 2017-18 season, Mestre replied, “200 percent”.

Reports making the news in Spain suggest Paris Saint-Germain are looking to lure the 25-year-old to the Parc des Princes after signing Neymar’s international teammate Dani Alves on a free transfer.

“PSG want to finalise the signing of Neymar this summer”, wrote Catalan daily Sport, while the Madrid-based AS newspaper led with the headline “Neymar flirts with PSG”.

The club is reportedly attempting to take advantage of Neymar’s desire to step out of Lionel Messi’s shadow in Barcelona.

“In the background of Neymar’s annoyance there’s always a concern, which has to do with his role in the team and his wish to become a leader,” wrote Catalan daily Sport.

“But you have to be aware that there are no shortcuts to leadership and it is something that is earned slowly, naturally and progressively,” it also added.

Neymar last year signed a new deal that will keep him at the Camp Now till 2021, with a reported net salary of about €16 million a year.

His new buyout clause was fixed at €200m for the first year of the deal, €222m for the second and will then increase to €250m for the remaining three years.

PSG would be willing to stump up the 222 million euros ($256.8 million) required to trigger Neymar’s release clause and would offer him a five-year deal worth 30-plus million euros a season; according to Marca.

However, French sports daily L’Equipe on Tuesday quoted a source at PSG club saying: “We’re not going to repeat the Neymar show. There is a huge release clause and you have to be realistic.”