Neymar offered new Santos deal, says father

Rio de Janeiro, March 15 (IANS)

Neymar has been offered a new contract by Brazil’s Santos, according to the striker’s father and agent.

The 21-year-old is currently tied to the club until July 2014 but Santos risks losing the starlet for nothing if a deal is not struck in advance, reports Xinhua.

“Santos have now offered us a contract renewal but we will have to wait and talk to them,” Neymar’s father said.

“It is very difficult to see him leaving before 2014 although we will have to think about what is best for him.”

Barcelona are reportedly leading the race to sign Neymar but the Catalan club faces competition from big-spending rivals Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Santos advisor Celso Leite said Thursday the club needed to act now to avoid missing out on a lucrative sale.

“I would like Santos to call his father so that they can try to come to an agreement,” Leite said. “If they can’t do that then they need to sell him by July at the latest.”