Barcelona president ‘doubts PSG will put Neymar on market’ but confirms transfer talks with Inter for Lautaro Martinez
BARCELONA president Josep Bartomeu has thrown cold water over speculation of Neymar moving to the Nou Camp but confirmed transfer talks with Lautaro Matinez.
PSG broke the bank by splashing out £198m to land Neymar in 2017 but the Brazilian ace has rejected attempts to extend his deal, which expires in 2022.
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It is unlikely that PSG will put Neymar on the market this summer, according to reports
Neymar has long been linked with a return to the Catalan giants and their latest attempt to prize the marksman away from the French capital includes Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele going the other way.
But as reported by Mundo Deportivo, Nou Camp chief Bartomeu reckons it is unlikely that Les Parisiens will put the Brazilian golden boy on the market given the financial uncertainty in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
He said: “it is a very difficult market for all clubs, especially.”
Transfer fees are predicted to plummet and lavish £90m-plus moves are likely to be a distant memory.
Nobody can guarantee contracts after a pandemic and wages, investment and expenses are set to take a big hit, so PSG may wait at least a year until they can cash in for the best possible price.
It would also be a major blow for the club to lose Neymar given that he has scored 69 goals in just 80 appearances for the French giants.
In that time, they have also won all three Ligue 1 titles as well as the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue in 2018.
Bartomeu admitted that the club have approached Inter Milan regarding their star man Martinez.
The Argentine striker has been a target for the Catalan giants for much of the season, having scored 17 goals in 38 games so far this term.
Inter’s sporting director recently confirmed that Martinez can join Barcelona this summer but only if his £100million release clause is met.
And this has proved a stumbling block for the La Liga giants who will reportedly not fork out the eye-watering release clause, having been forced to tighten the pursestrings after the coronavirus pandemic.
Barcelona need to balance the books before landing big-money targets with up to seven players up for grabs.
Dembele, Coutinho, Nelson Semedo, Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic have been told they are free to leave.
The Catalan Giants believe that Martinez’s value could drop especially if the player tells Inter chiefs that he wants out.
Barcelona star Gerard Pique arrives at the Nou Camp on a bicycle More
