BARCELONA PREDSIDENT JOSEP Maria Bartomeu has dismissed reports linking Neymar with Manchester United, revealing that the Catalans want the Brazilian superstar to finish his career at Camp Nou.
There has been mounting speculation that United are considering lodging a record-breaking €330 million (£240m) bid for Neymar before the close of the summer transfer window, with some newspapers also claiming that the 23-year-old is keen on a move to Old Trafford.
However, Bartomeu says that Barca have no intention of selling one of the key players in last season’s treble triumph, explaining that they hope to soon tie the forward down to a new, long-term contract. “We do not want Neymar to leave,” the Blaugrana supremo told ‘Club Mitjanit’ on Radio Catalunya.
He is young and we want him to retire here at our club. We will discuss Neymar’s renewal in some months’ time as he must stay here – not only for the next three seasons, but for the next five or 10.”
Neymar joined Barca from Santos in 2013 and initially struggled to reproduce his very best form during a first season in La Liga blighted by fitness problems and controversy surrounding his transfer.
However, the Brazil captain enjoyed a stellar 2014-15 campaign, netting 39 times in 51 matches in all competitions as the Blaugrana won the Spanish title, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
