Neymar Buyout Clause Reportedly to be Activated by PSG This Week

Barcelona believe Paris Saint-Germain will soon activate Neymar's buyout clause, per Sky Sports La Liga expert Guillem Balague: 

Talk of the forward moving to the French capital has been building in recent days. Ed Malyon of The Independent reported PSG are willing to pay the €222 million needed to buy the Brazilian out of his contract.

Barca are even prepared to let Neymar choose his next destination, according to Jordi Blanco of ESPN Deportes (h/t ESPN.co.uk). Opting to join Les Parisiens is a decision Neymar could make, at least based on reports of his unhappiness at the Camp Nou.

A report from Sport revealed he may want to escape the shadow of illustrious team-mate Lionel Messi. There is also the presence of fellow Brazil international Dani Alves in Paris.

Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press

The right-back has been trying to talk Neymar into moving to Ligue 1, per French football analyst Julien Laurens, speaking on ESPN FC.

For their part, Barca have said Neymar is happy in La Liga. Club spokesperson recntly Josep Vives stated as much, per ESPN.co.uk: "He is happy in the club, and the club is happy with him. He verbalises it, and he shows it with his attitude. We are relaxed about that, and we only hope next season is better than the last one."

However, as Balague noted, Neymar has been strangely quiet on the subject of his future:

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu has spoken out on the subject. He contradicted reports Neymar will jump ship, saying the 25-year-old former Santos man won't be sold, per the Associated Press (h/t Sky Sports): "He is not on the market."

This transfer saga is far from reaching its end, but PSG's interest in Neymar doesn't look like going away. If the Brazilian is serious about standing on his own, leaving a Barca squad dominated by Messi may be his best move.