Neymar set to arrive in Barcelona on Monday

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) –

Neymar presents his new football shoes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 28, 2013. Santos and Brazil star Neymar, who has just signed a five-year contract with Spanish giants Barcelona, will be presented by his new club on Monday, Brazil’s technical director Carlos Alberto Parreira said Wednesday.

Santos and Brazil star Neymar, who has just signed a five-year contract with Spanish giants Barcelona, will be presented by his new club on Monday, Brazil’s technical director Carlos Alberto Parreira said Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference, Parreira confirmed that Neymar had been given permission to head to Barcelona after playing for Brazil in Sunday’s friendly match against England in Rio de Janeiro.

The 21-year-old star, whose full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, revealed on Tuesday that he was keen to join Barcelona but wanted first “to focus on the Confederations Cup to try to win the title for Brazil.”

The Confederations Cup, a dry run for next year’s World Cup, will be held in Brazil from June 15 to 30.

Brazil, winner of five World Cups and three Confederations Cups, are preparing for next month’s tournament with two friendly games, one against England on Sunday in Rio’s iconic Maracana stadium, and another against France on June 9 in the southeastern city of Porto Alegre.