Barcelona Transfer News: Neymar 'Campaign' Denied Amid United, Madrid Rumours

Barcelona director Jordi Mestre insisted Neymar is not for sale amid ongoing reports the Blaugrana may be prepared to sell him for his €190 million (£150.1 million) release clause in the summer.

Per Barca TV (via Spanish outlet Sport), Mestre said the Catalans are "delighted" with Neymar despite his recent drop in form:

"

Absolutely not [on selling Neymar]. I’ve said it many times, but it’s something which keeps coming up. I have said it actively and passively. We are delighted with Neymar and he is not for sale—it’s not even crossed our minds. He’s a player who made an economical effort [there were better offers elsewhere] when he signed, he came because he wanted to play good football, with [Lionel] Messi and company, win titles. He’s having a spectacular season. 

Probably the fact that he”s not scored goals recently or things haven’t gone as well [is why rumours have appeared]. It’s pure speculation. It’s never crossed our minds to sell Neymar. We are absolutely satisfied with his performances and his behaviour.

"

Sport's Lluis Mascaro previously reported a "campaign" against the 24-year-old had "activated," with media outlets questioning his lifestyle "with the willing of part of the board" and rumours linking both Manchester United and Real Madrid with Neymar.   

He has indeed had a slight dip in form lately as Barca's season has threatened to go off the rails with four defeats in their last five matches.

Last time out against Valencia, he put in another poor performance, with Bleacher Report's Dean Jones questioning his discipline as well as his effectiveness in front of goal:

Per WhoScored.com, the Brazil captain has failed to add to his La Liga tally of 21 goals and 10 assists since he netted in a 2-2 draw with Villarreal on March 20.

Such has been his poor recent form that a Sport poll asking if Barca fans would sell Neymar for €190 million in the summer currently has 62 per cent of under 7,000 voters answering "yes," via Pete Jenson of the MailOnline.

According to television programme El Chiringuito (via Sport), Real are looking to take advantage of the current malaise at Barca—and the attitude towards Neymar—by swooping for the forward.

The report said signing Neymar is "Madrid president Florentino Perez’s biggest obsession" and Los Blancos are prepared to meet his release clause—as are United, per Mascaro.

However, it is indeed likely, as noted by Mestro, that the latest rumours surrounding Neymar have simply emerged as a result of his poor form and Barca's recent defeats.

The former Santos man has had a brilliant campaign overall and was arguably the best player in the world in the first half of the 2015-16 season, when he and Luis Suarez helmed the Barca ship in Messi's injury-enforced absence.

Neymar is still a young player and can be forgiven for dropping off form towards the end of a gruelling season, especially considering the amount of football Barca have played in the past year, per the Times' Gabriele Marcotti:

The idea Barca would allow one of their best players to move to archrivals Real is somewhat ludicrous, not least because Neymar has proved his immense potential over the last couple of seasons and can be excused a slight blip.