BARCELONA are using the suspension of matches to work on a deal to bring Neymar back to the club in a bid to stop Lionel Messi leaving in the summer, according to reports.
LaLiga is suspended for at least two weeks amid the coronavirus outbreak in Europe and the Catalan giants are said to be trying to capitalise on the delay.
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Barcelona are using the break in the season to try and get Neymar back to the club and Lionel Messi to stay
Despite the suspension, Barcelona have reportedly continued to make a push for Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, 28, after failing to sign him last summer.
Local media report the move is motivated by the fact Barcelona captain Messi, 32, still wants to team up with the Brazilian icon again.
Spanish newspaper El Confidencial cite Messi’s inner circle and say the Argentine is not happy at Barca and the only one thing that would make him go on past the end of the season is if the club sign Neymar.
Barcelona reportedly plan on continuing negotiations with PSG to see if they can reach a deal for the Brazilian international, who left the Camp Nou for Paris in a world record £198million deal in 2017.
The club could also revert to Fifa’s article 17 which gives Neymar the option to break his contract without just cause once he finishes his third year at the club.
That could kick in at the end of this season, according to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.
It is unclear if Barcelona plan on using this option because the move could be very costly.
The club would have to pay compensation to the French champions and it could take several months to complete.
Messi is under contract with Barcelona until June 2021 and local media report the club are working to keep him at the club with an offer of a £45.46m-a-year until June 2023.
His current contract reportedly allows the Argentine forward to opt-out at the end of every season, potentially allowing him to leave Barcelona for free.
Another move that may affect the bid for Neymar is Barcelona’s potential acquisition of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, 22, a move that could include Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal, 32, who has struggled for playing time at the Camp Nou.
Spain currently has 11,309 confirmed coronavirus cases with 509 deaths.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
