Comments about wanting to play under Pep Guardiola mean he is going to Manchester City. The Sun says Manchester United "lead the hunt" for him. His financial legal issues in Spain suggest he might want to be frankly anywhere else at all.
But is there actually any chance Neymar leaves Barcelona? No, not if Luis Suarez is right about things.
After Barcelona's 7-0 thrashing of Valencia in the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday night, Suarez said in the post-match broadcast interview, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, that he was "convinced" Neymar will remain at the Camp Nou.
"I am convinced Neymar will stay," said Suarez, who has 19 La Liga goals for Barca this season, and 35 across all competitions after his four-goal outburst against Valencia.
“The club supports him and I am sure he will be here for many years.”
Suarez would certainly have reason to want him to stay, with the pair linking up with Lionel Messi to give Barcelona the most potent attacking trio perhaps in the history of football.
Neymar, though, still without a contract extension on his current deal that runs through 2018, has constantly been the subject of rumours dating back to last summer.
English outlet The Sun reported on Wednesday that Manchester Unitd "lead the race for the Brazil superstar" while mentioning Manchester City and Chelsea as other possible pursuers. Neymar previously said in a promotional interview with Red Bull that he was "happy where I am right now" even as he named future Man City manager Guardiola as "a guy that I really admire and that I would love to work with".
Similarly, he was also caught at the airport in Barcelona returning from La Liga’s winter break and specified “no, not that” to a City move to work under Guardiola. But pressed about his Barca future, he said “you never know, life is long”.
To Red Bull, he later also said “nobody knows tomorrow”.
Amidst that cryptic backdrop he has none the worse performed for all-conquering Barca, where he has 25 goals and 13 assists across all competitions. His last two matches, the cup win over Valencia and a league victory over Atletico Madrid, were both however without goal after a run of five straight matches with a strike.
Barcelona are all but into the Copa del Rey final after Wednesday's first leg result, sit solidly atop La Liga after their victorious encounter with challengers Atletico a week ago and remain on course to retain the Champions League trophy with Arsenal awaiting in the last 16.
Also see: The National's Transfer Talk page
Chelsea
Radamel Falcao has been omitted from Chelsea's Champions League squad for the remainder of the season, but new signing Alexandre Pato is included.
Falcao, who has not played since October due to a thigh injury, will therefore miss the last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain. The first leg takes place at Parc des Princes on February 16 and the second at Stamford Bridge on March 9.
On-loan AS Monaco striker Falcao, who had an ill-fated loan at Manchester United, has scored once so far on his season-long stint at Chelsea. He is named in the Premier League squad list.
Falcao was linked with a deadline day move to former club Atletico Madrid or Valencia, while his parent club Monaco earlier in January ruled out a return citing concerns over his fitness.
There is one realistic remaining avenue for an exit for the Colombian as China’s transfer window does not close until February 26.
Pato signed last week on a six-month loan from Corinthians, but has not played since November, and is included in both lists alongside Matt Miazga, the 20-year-old defender signed from the New York Red Bulls.
*Press Association
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