Reports: PSG interested in Barcelona's Neymar, ready to activate €193m release clause
French newspaper L’Equipe on their front page claimed that Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain are thinking of spending big in the summer. The newspaper also reports that Paris Saint-Germain have no problems in paying Neymar’s release clause which is a staggering €193 million.
Neymar’s contract runs out in June 2018 and a host of big clubs including Real Madrid have been credited with an interest in securing the Brazilian’s services. However, some reports have suggested that Neymar has already signed a pre-contract with the Catalan side.
L’Equipe claim PSG have begun discussions with Neymar’s father and agent and that a deal for the Brazilian would not contravene FFP rules, especially if Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer.
Neymar’s agent Wagner Ribiero is quoted as saying: “He feels good in Barcelona but living in Paris & playing for a club like PSG is also a dream for all players.”
The Brazilian forward earns 14.5m euros at Barcelona and PSG are ready to offer him close to 20m euros making him one of the highest-paid players in the world.
Barcelona planning to discuss contract with Neymar at the end of current season
Barcelona president Jose Bartomeu confirmed the club would meet with the Brazilian at the end of the season to discuss an extension to his current contract, which expires in 2018, reports Xinhua news agency.
"Barcelona are not rushing," Bartomeu was quoted as telling the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper on Saturday.
"We are not putting any pressure on him. At the end of the season we will sit down and talk about the future. I know there won't be any problems."
"He has already said that he wants to stay. Our plan is to have him here until the end of his career."
Meanwhile, Bartomeu confirmed Neymar would be free to represent Brazil at the Rio Olympic in August, but he ruled out the 24-year-old participation at the Copa America in June.
"We don't have any problem with Neymar playing the Olympics," he said. "Barcelona would be delighted. I think (the Games) are the cause of great pride for the country. I'm not the coach of Brazil but if I were I would take him."
"To convince Barcelona that he should play in both (the Copa America and Olympics) will be impossible. We are conscious of the Copa America's importance but we believe the players need a rest after two busy seasons," Bartomeu concluded.