The former agent of Neymar ruled out the possibility of his old client leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
Speculation over the Brazil international's future in the French capital intensified this week after PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi opened the door to the forward leaving the Parc des Princes. That is despite Neymar, 30, extending his contract at the club just a year ago through to the summer of 2025.
Neymar’s long-term PSG attacking partner Kylian Mbappe opted to sign a three-year contract extension with the Ligue 1 champions last month and - coupled with Lionel Messi ’s high-profile summer transfer from Barcelona last summer - the Brazilian’s status within the dressing room has continued to be watered down.
He has been involved in just 92 Ligue 1 matches across five seasons and, with PSG hopeful of offsetting the costs of Mbappe’s and Messi’s respective wages, his future may be vulnerable. Neymar has been beset by fitness setbacks and injury issues since his transfer from the Camp Nou.
He formed an attacking trident alongside Mbappe and Messi last season but with the Frenchman spearheading the attack and Messi providing the majority of the goal assists, Neymar’s role has been somewhat downplayed.
When asked about the player’s future in Paris, Al-Khelaifi said this week: "Neymar part of the new project or not? We can't speak about this in public as some players will arrive, some players will leave the club. These are private negotiations."
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High-profile Brazilian agent Wagner Ribeiro – who previously represented Neymar earlier in the player’s career, before the majority of his dealings were dealt with by Neymar’s family – told Goal : “Neymar has a dream: to be a winner of the Champions League with PSG. Despite all the rumours regarding a possible exit, he is very motivated and will not stop until he achieves it.”
Neymar is likely to have one eye on preparing for this winter’s World Cup finals in Qatar, where he will be hopeful of landing the trophy for the first time in his career. The superstar was the key player in Brazil’s attempts to win the tournament - which they hosted - in 2014, before being ruled out of the semi-final defeat by Germany through injury.
Brazil have won the World Cup five times – more than any other nation – but have not lifted the trophy in two decades. Neymar is aiming to play a key role for PSG before once again being the main man for his nation in Qatar.
