Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Neymar and Marquinhos

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign Barcelona forward Neymar in the summer after negotiations were held to discuss a transfer.

That’s according to L’Equipe (h/t Marca) where it has been stated the Brazilian’s father did hold discussions with the French champions about a switch, with an annual salary of €35 million (£31 million) said to have been agreed. Neymar was reportedly viewed as the ideal replacement for the departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

However, PSG are said to have walked away from the negotiating table when it transpired that Neymar’s entourage wanted the club to write off the player’s €40 million (£35.5 million) debts. Here’s how the story was reported, per football journalist Kristan Heneage:

Neymar remains a Barcelona player and committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year deal on Friday. The new contract includes a buyout amount of £181 million for the first year, £200 million for the second and £226 million for the remaining three.

As we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, Neymar has already had a big impact in La Liga for Barcelona this season:

Although there was some speculation about his future at the Camp Nou, it’ll concern Barca fans that Neymar did apparently come close to leaving the club.

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After all, the Brazil international has struck up a wonderful relationship with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in Catalonia. As the youngest of the revered trio, Neymar is viewed by many as the future of the club and a talent who can go on to become the finest player in world football.

With this new contract signed, any talk of a possible transfer will likely be shelved for a long time yet.

PSG are one of a select few teams in world football who could afford to pay the release clause in Neymar’s contract, although a five-year deal points to a player who’s content with life with his current employers.

Marquinhos Dismisses Barca Rumours

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Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Marquinhos has insisted he remains fully committed to the club despite links to Barcelona.

“An offer from Barcelona? PSG have always had great faith in me,” he said to Canal Football Club (h/t Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC). “…Would I say no to Barcelona? I have no need to tell them anything, because PSG will not sell me. Could I join the Catalans later? For now, I want to make my life in Paris if everything continues like this. I am really good in Paris right now.”

Per Johnson, PSG are said to be ready to offer Marquinhos a new contract, with his current terms set to run out in 2019. Here’s a look at why so many consider him to be among the best young defenders in the game:

Having been on the fringes of the first XI since joining from AS Roma in 2013, the 22-year-old has finally established himself in the team this term. That’s after David Luiz rejoined Chelsea and Marquinhos was handed a spot at the heart of the defence.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe suggested the decision to sell Luiz may well be the making of the youngster in the French capital:

After all, it must have been a frustrating situation for Marquinhos to be on the cusp of the first team. And if Barca have been sniffing around, it would have been no surprise had his head been turned.

Now, the Brazilian looks poised for a prolonged run in the side next to Thiago Silva and a chance to prove he can be a building block at the Parc des Princes.

Barcelona, meanwhile, moved for Samuel Umtiti to bolster their defensive ranks in the summer window, meaning they’re well stocked in this segment of the field.