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Pique: Instagram post about Neymar was a 'personal opinion'

LLUIS GENE / AFP / Getty

When Gerard Pique posted on Instagram that Neymar would "stay" at Barcelona, it was nothing more than a gut feeling, the defender said Tuesday.

Pique's comment led many to believe his Brazilian teammate would resist the tempting advances of cash-rich Paris Saint-Germain.

Se queda.

A post shared by Gerard Piqué (@3gerardpique) on

But at a press conference, the Spanish international clarified what he meant.

"It was a personal opinion. The one that has to communicate if he stays or not, at the end of the day, is Neymar," Pique told reporters, according to Marca's Ramiro Aldunate. "My desire is for him to stay, so I uploaded the photo.

"Anyway, I would understand if he went to another team if what he wants is to be a leader, since in Barcelona he has coincided with the best ever, Leo Messi."

Multiple outlets suggest PSG is prepared to activate Neymar's €222-million release to bring the 25-year-old to the Parc des Princes. Neymar could reportedly net as much as €40 million a season if he were to join Unai Emery's side.

That Neymar will never surpass Messi in terms of popularity and importance at Barcelona is an important observation by Pique. At PSG, Neymar would not only become the main attraction, but the face of a Brazilian movement. Countrymen Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, and Lucas Moura already represent the capital club.

In a preceding press conference Tuesday, PSG manager Emery deflected questions about Neymar's situation.

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