• La Liga

Barcelona coy on Neymar reports

ESPNsoccernet staff
December 21, 2011
Neymar's rumoured move to Barcelona is yet to be confirmed © PA Photos
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Barcelona remain evasive on repeated reports they have agreed a deal to put them at the head of the queue to sign Brazil striker Neymar from Santos.

Reports in Spain said Barca had agreed a deal to pay €10 million in advance in order to have the right to conclude a transfer for the 19-year-old before 2014, with Barcelona entitled to a compensation payment of €20 million if Neymar decides to move elsewhere or if Santos choose not to sell the player before that date.

Barca spokesman Toni Frexia, however, refused to be drawn on the question.

"What we do is communicate agreements when they are finalised," he said. "We also respect that the player is a member of another team, Santos, so we have nothing to say. I don't explain things that we are doing until they are done."

In contrast to Frexia, Neymar's father hasn't been so reluctant to comment and has admitted a move to the Spanish champions would be a 'great' option for his son.

"Neymar has a contract with Santos until 2014, but Barca is clearly an option that would be great," he told ONA FM radio station. "For now, however, the only agreement that there is is between Santos and himself. We feel it would be best if he continues to grow and mature as a football player.

"After negotiating we signed an agreement to renew his contract until 2014 and so we decided to move ahead with that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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