Barcelona Transfer News: Neymar Permission Refused Amid PSG Rumours

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will forbid any club from speaking with Neymar, which is sure to dent the hopes of Paris Saint-Germain in their reported pursuit of the star.

According to Globo Esporte (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts), Bartomeu said: "If someone wants to negotiate with Neymar, we will not give them permission. Neymar will stay at Barcelona."

Per Coerts, PSG have been linked with a move for the Brazilian in recent times, with the 24-year-old yet to renew his contract with the Blaugrana. 

In an interview with Damien Degorre and Arnaud Hermant of French outlet L'Equipe on Monday (h/t BBC Sport), Neymar's agent Wagner Ribeiro said the forward would "discuss" a transfer to the French capital if Les Parisiens make their interest known:

"

He feels good in Barcelona. He's loved over there and he's playing for the best team in the world. 

It's no small feat to impose yourself at such an enormous club. 

But the prospect of living in a city like Paris and to play for a club like PSG—that's also a dream for every player.

We'll see in two years, when he will be at the end of his contract. A contract can also be terminated provided that the release clause is paid. 

It's huge: €193 million. But I don't think that would be an insurmountable problem for PSG.

"

Neymar has been in sublime form this season, bagging 27 goals and 23 assists in all competitions, and PSG—who look set to lose star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer—are one of the few sides who could contemplate meeting his buyout clause, which they would seemingly have to do with Bartomeu so determined to keep him.

L'Equipe have further noted Neymar is a top target for PSG:

Bleacher Report's own Jonathan Johnson gave his take on whether they could pull it off:

Team-mate Gerard Pique is confident Neymar will be going nowhere, though, per Sport: "Neymar will not move from Barcelona, I am convinced. I know him and I know he is not going to leave."

Brazil legend Cafu would like to see his compatriot remain at the Camp Nou, where he believes he can take over Lionel Messi's mantle as the world's best player. He told Laureus.com: "I hope that he can continue at Barcelona. Barcelona is a team that supports him, it’s a team that provides him with structure to help him continue to shine."

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane made special plans for Neymar in Saturday's El Clasico, per Ed Malyon of the Mirror:

That's high praise indeed, with Messi and Luis Suarez also among Barca's attacking threats. The Selecao captain is not only developing into a prolific goalscorer, he's also highly creative, as Squawka Football revealed:

It wouldn't be surprising if PSG did make their pursuit of Neymar concrete given the form he's displayed for quite some time now, not to mention his age makes him a long-term acquisition for a prospective suitor.

There is little reason for him to leave Barca any time soon, though, so PSG and any other club hoping to land him in a sensational coup may have to wait years before he becomes available or pursues a move away.