Neymar of FC Barcelona celebrates with his son.
Barcelona are convinced Brazil
captain Neymar will commit his long-term future to the Nou Camp as
protracted negotiations between the Spanish champions and the striker
continue over an extension to his current deal, which expires in June
2018.
There is a possibility that the world’s third-best footballer per the
2015 Ballon d’Or voting, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi,
might leave Barcelona for Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old forward, who just completed his third season at
Barca, has attracted the attention of several leading European clubs but
his present employers are keen to play down talk that Neymar could soon
be plying his trade elsewhere.
"Neymar will stay," Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez said on the club's official website.
"He will reach an agreement with Barca and he will be here for a long
time," he added. "The club will make it public when the extension is to
be made."
Neymar scored 31 goals in 48 appearances last season to help the club win a domestic league and cup double.
Fernandez is also confident that central defender Javier Mascherano,
who has two years left on his current deal with the Catalan giants, will
remain at the club.
Mascherano has been linked in the Spanish media with a move to
Italian side Juventus but Barca will not want to lose another defender
after Brazilian right back Dani Alves was confirmed to be leaving the
club after eight seasons on Thursday.
When asked about Mascherano, Fernandez said: "We are clear. We will
reach an agreement. He is a vital player for us and I don't have any
doubts about whether he will stay."
The 31-year-old, who can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder,
has been a regular for Barca since his arrival from Liverpool in 2010.
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