Neymar Will Not Be Sold – Jordi Mestre

Barcelona director Jordi Mestre says the club have not thought about selling Neymar this summer, amid renewed speculation about the Brazilian’s future following the team’s slump in form.

Some of the local media explanations for a previously unstoppable Barca having picked up just one point from their last four La Liga games, and crashed out of the Champions League to Atletico Madrid, have centred on off-field distractions having affected the out-of-form Neymar’s performances on the pitch.

Sport has reported that such stories have been leaked by Barca board members, who are considering selling the player this summer should potential suitors such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester United meet his €190 million release clause.

Asked on Barca TV if the board’s plan was to sell the 24-year-old, the Blaugrana director said the idea had not even entered their heads.

“Of course not,” Mestre said. “That is something that keeps coming up, but I have said it many times — we are delighted with Neymar. And Neymar will not be sold. We have not even thought about doing it.”

Mestre said the current talk about Neymar’s future had come as the result of Barca’s current slump in form, with Neymar himself not having scored or assisted in his last five games, but was “pure speculation.”

The Barca director said: “When he signed for us, he made a financial effort as other clubs were going to give him more money. He came here to play because he wanted to play good football, alongside [Leo] Messi, to win trophies.

“This season he has been spectacular. For sure, that he has not scored recently, or things have not gone as he wanted, has brought out some comments, but they are pure speculation.”

Mestre echoed previous comments from Barca figures including president Josep Maria Bartomeu that Neymar playing both this summer’s Copa America Centenario in the United States and the Olympics in Brazil would be detrimental to both the player and his club.

“What we cannot deny is for him to play a FIFA competition [Copa America], but what we advise is that he only plays one tournament [the Olympics],” he said. “The seasons are very tough and we believe he must rest. The situation must be managed, and we must recommend the best for him or for us. There is no hurry on it.”

On talks over a new contract for Neymar, whose current deal runs until June 2018, Mestre said he was confident agreement would be reached, without going into details on when any talks would begin.

“If we have to talk, we will talk,” he said. “I see Neymar very happy at Barca, in Barcelona, very integrated into the team and the city. He is committed to the maximum. I don’t see why he should leave or why we would not renew his contract. It is about both parties’ wishes.”