• Premier League

Neymar set to snub Real and Barca

ESPNsoccernet staff
July 20, 2011
Neymar's skills have caught the eye of a string of top clubs © PA Photos
Enlarge

Neymar has claimed he wants to stay at Santos as the long-running transfer saga takes yet another turn.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are said to be battling it out for Neymar, while Chelsea have held a long-standing interest, and his agent, Wagner Ribeiro, said his client had a preference for the Bernabeu.

However, the Brazil international's father had said earlier in July: "He will only decide his future after the Copa America. Neymar is very happy in Brazil and we will only let him leave the country if he is very happy there."

Following Brazil's quarter-final exit to Paraguay, Neymar was asked by reporters where he would be playing next season and has now insisted he will not leave his homeland.

Neymar said: "I'm a Santos player. Santos is my future."

He added: "I've become more mature. I learned a lot playing with Santos in the Copa Libertadores and I leave [Argentina] with even more maturity after playing in my first Copa America."

Ganso, Neymar's team-mate for club and country, has also indicated he expects to remain at Santos.

"I don't know what's happening yet," Ganso said. "I have to talk to the board, but my thinking now is to stay with Santos."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices