BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL - JULY 02: Neymar of Brazil looks on during the Copa America Brazil 2019 Semi Final match between Brazil and Argentina at Mineirao Stadium on July 02, 2019 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Barcelona president: 'We know that Neymar wants to leave PSG'

7 years ago
Chris Brunskill/Fantasista / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu believes Neymar is keen to leave Paris Saint-Germain but the French club won't sell the forward.

Neymar left Barcelona for PSG in a world-record €222-million transfer two summers ago. However, his relationship with the Ligue 1 outfit seems to have soured, with chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi's warning that "celebrity behavior" would no longer be tolerated at the Parc des Princes widely believed to be a not-so-subtle jab at the Brazilian international.

The disquiet around Neymar's situation in Paris has led to him being linked with a return to Catalonia.

"We know that Neymar wants to leave PSG, but PSG don't want to sell him, so there's no Neymar case," Bartomeu said in a press conference Friday, according to ESPN FC's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

Bartomeu also refuted reports that Lionel Messi asked Barcelona to re-sign Neymar, and he refused to speak any further on the transfer speculation.

Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner said last month that he believed Neymar wanted to play for the Blaugrana again but that the club didn't want him. A report then contradicted Cardoner's words less than a week later, as it was understood Barcelona were considering using Philippe Coutinho as a makeweight in a deal to reacquire Neymar.

The 27-year-old is currently nursing an ankle injury while he watches Coutinho and other compatriots pursue a ninth Copa America crown for the Selecao. Brazil faces Peru in Sunday's final.

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