Barcelona Transfer News: Neymar Confirms Summer Talks Amid PSG, United Rumours

Neymar has confirmed revelations from his agent that he met with a number of clubs during the summer over a possible transfer before opting to sign a new contract with Barcelona and remain at the Camp Nou.

The Brazilian superstar's representative, Wagner Ribeiro, recently said Neymar was "close" to joining Paris Saint-Germain on a €40 million yearly salary, while he was "also close to a spell at Manchester United," per ESPN Brazil (h/t ESPN FC's Ian Holyman). 

Neymar refused to confirm which clubs he had been in talks with or how much money he had been offered, but he did admit to discussions with alternative outfits before he committed himself to Barca, per ESPN FC's Sam Marsden.

"I had discussions with many people, but I decided to stay at Barca because I'm happy," the 24-year-old said. "I can't confirm [€40m offer from PSG]. I don't like talking figures. I've said I was in talks with many teams, but I stayed here."

Barcelona relayed further comments from Neymar in which he explained why he opted to remain with the Catalan giants:

Signed at the beginning of July, Neymar's new deal with Barca runs to June 2021, and his release clause will increase from £167 million to £210 million over the next three seasons, per Sky Sports' Paul Vinnell.

Barca are clearly eager to make him prohibitively expensive so as to avoid any other clubs moving for him in the near future.

According to ESPN Brazil (via Matt Heath-Smith of the Sun), as well as the huge salary PSG offered Neymar, they also looked to tempt him to the Parc des Princes with a private jet and a stake in a chain of hotels, with owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi prepared to sign him at "any cost."

However, despite the French champions' enormous riches and lavish offers, Neymar opted to remain at Barca, a sign of how committed he is to the club.

It would have been a huge blow for Barca to have lost Neymar, as it would have broken up arguably the greatest attacking trio of all time.

Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi showed they still have as much appetite as ever this season when they helped Barca demolish Celtic 7-0 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, per SuperSport:

His partnership with Messi and Suarez is likely one of the key reasons Neymar remained at Barca, as, though he would have been the No. 1 superstar at PSG, he never would have been part of such a lethal trio in Paris, even alongside the likes of Angel Di Maria and Edinson Cavani.

Similarly, his prospects would have dipped, as, no matter the size of PSG and United, Barca remain the better club side at the moment, and arguably the best in Europe.