Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed that Neymar will put pen-to-paper on a new deal with the club in the ‘next few days’.
The Brazilian forward has had his future questioned in recent months, with suggestions that he could be set to quit the Catalan giants this summer with three European giants monitoring his situation closely.
Of those three clubs was Manchester United according to reports, with claims that they were ready to wage an ‘all-out offensive’ to sign the Barca star.
However, Bartomeu has moved to silence talk of an exit from the Nou Camp, as he has revealed that the expectation is that Neymar will sign a new deal with the club.
“Neymar wants to stay here. In the next few days we will finalise his contract extension,” he said in a press conference, as confirmed by the club’s official Twitter account.
The 24-year-old scored 31 goals and provided 27 assists in all competitions last season, but a loss of form coincided with Barca’s dip that threatened to see their campaign end in disappointment.
However, all concerned regrouped and ended the year with a domestic double, and it appears as though Neymar will continue to play a pivotal part in the club’s success moving forward.
Provided that there was genuine truth in United’s interest, the latest development will certainly be a blow to Jose Mourinho’s plans this summer as he would arguably have hoped to have the Brazilian spearhead his rebuild at Old Trafford.