Reports: Superstar won't return to FC Barcelona but are interested in Dutch prodigy, claims President
What's the story?
FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has ruled out re-signing Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain in the near future but has admitted that the club is interested in the services of Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt.
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Neymar was on a sensational run of form in the current season before he got injured. He scored 13 goals and provided 6 assists in the Ligue 1 while scoring 5 goals and racking up 2 assists in the Champions League against the likes of Napoli, Liverpool and Red Star Belgrade.
Neymar left FC Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a world record €222 million fee but has been repeatedly linked with a return back to the club. Various reports claimed that his father and the player himself has been in constant touch with the Barcelona hierarchy over a possible reunion at the Nou Camp in the future.
The heart of the matter
Meanwhile, Barcelona president, Josep Bartomeu, has denied those reports, claiming that neither party has shown interest over a potential move.
"I've spoken with Neymar, we've seen each other a few times, but his people have never told me he wants to come back. No one's called us about it. Neymar has a contract with PSG. It's his second season there and it's very difficult to imagine they (PSG) want to sell. We didn't want to," Bartomeu said as quoted by Xinhua.
The club recently acquired the services of Ajax midfielder Frenkie De Jong who will join the squad this summer. The president confirmed that Barcelona are also keeping a close eye on his teammate De Ligt, though no decision has been taken on whether they will make a move for him in the summer.
"It's true he's a player we like, but Barcelona also have other important players in the squad. We will look at more things from March or April. We're delighted to watch him play and admire him, but there's nothing more at the moment," he added.
What's next?
FC Barcelona will look to focus on La Liga, before facing Lyon on the Champions League next week.
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