Gerard Pique Clarifies Neymar Tweet over Brazilian's Potential PSG Transfer

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has insisted he doesn't know if Neymar will move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer despite a post on social media hinting the Brazilian would be staying put. 

Pique posted a snap of himself and Neymar on Instagram on Sunday with an accompanying caption that translates as "he stays." However, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday night, the Barcelona defender admitted he wasn't sure what decision Neymar will make, per Sky Sports:

"My Instagram post was a gut thing. I want Neymar to stay. [It's my] Personal opinion from conversations I've had with him. It's my intuition.

"It was nothing official, it doesn't depend on me. Only Neymar can say what will happen, but I hope he stays. I try to explain to Neymar, as a team-mate and a friend, the situation he's in. I would say don't go to a league which, with all due respect, is not as good."

Here's a reminder of the photo Pique shared with his followers on social media:

As noted in the report, PSG have been linked with a possible move for Neymar, with Sky Sports suggesting there is "a 90 per cent chance the deal could happen."

Also speaking to the press, Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano said he was hopeful the Brazilian would remain at the club.

"We've all had a little chat with him because it's the group's desire that Neymar stays with us," he said. "The feeling is that Neymar will stay because he's so important to us all on a footballing and personal level."

While it feels as though Neymar's future is in the balance, sports journalist Rik Sharma believes Barcelona are in damage-control mode:

That's because Neymar's departure would leave an enormous void on the left-hand side at the Camp Nou.

Of course, in Lionel Messi, Barcelona boast arguably the finest footballer on the planet, and in Luis Suarez, perhaps the most effective centre-forward in the world. Yet Neymar adds a dash of something different to the forward line.

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

His blistering pace, ingenuity on the ball and array of skills make the Brazilian a joy to watch. Neymar is also effective, scoring some key goals and shining in enormous matches during his Barcelona career.

WhoScored.com rates him highly:

Although Neymar penned a new long-term contract with Barcelona last season, the worry for the La Liga giants is this deal could go through whether they want it to or not. As noted by Julien Laurens of the Guardian, PSG are said to be willing to match his buyout clause of €222 million, and the player is said to want the move.

Barcelona's star men clearly want Neymar to stick around for the coming campaign; despite the wealth of attacking talent at the club, it appears they know just how important a figure the Brazilian is in Catalonia.