Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde insists stories linking Neymar with a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain are nothing but ‘rumours’ and that they want him to stay.
The 25-year-old has been strongly linked this week with a shock move to PSG, who are reportedly set to trigger his £197million release clause in the next few days.
Neymar himself is also said to be keen on the move, but Valverde believes there is no truth to the speculation that has emerged from sources in both Brazil and France.
‘Neymar is with us and we absolutely want him to stay here, the rest is just rumours,’ Valverde told a press conference ahead of his side’s friendly with Juventus in New Jersey.
The manager’s words echo the message from elsewhere at the Nou Camp, with club president Josep Bartomeu insisting earlier this week that Neymar was not on the market and that a deal was ‘impossible’ due to Financial Fair Play laws.
‘These clauses are impossible to activate, if you want to comply with the financial fair play,’ Bartomeu said. ‘If someone doesn’t want to comply, then of course it can be activated.’