Neymar 'Will Not Go to Real Madrid' Says PSG Academy Director Luis Fernandez

Paris Saint-Germain academy director Luis Fernandez has become the latest at the club to say Neymar will not be leaving the French capital for Real Madrid.

He told El Larguero on Cadena SER (h/t Marca):

"I'll stick my neck out, because Neymar will not go to Real Madrid. If PSG went after Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe then it was for them to stay here, not for them to leave.

"Neymar is the star of PSG. He makes the difference and when you see him play you don't detect what people say about him wanting to leave.

"He's convinced that he's happy here and he wants to succeed."

Fernandez's comments follow those made by club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who told L'Equipe (h/t Zinny Boswell of Sky Sports) he was "2,000 per cent" sure the Brazilian would be staying put at the club amid links to Real.

Neymar, who turned 26 on Monday, has already achieved a phenomenal amount over the course of his career:

The forward arrived last summer from Barcelona and has become the main man in the French capital with a monthly salary to reflect that status, per L'Equipe (h/t Goal's Mohammed Ali):

Neymar has shone at the Parc des Princes, plundering 27 goals and 16 assists in 26 appearances in all competitions.

At times the talisman has perhaps relished his status too much at the expense of his team-mates. In January, Neymar denied Edinson Cavani the opportunity to become PSG's all-time top goalscorer from the penalty spot, though ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson noticed an improvement in his attitude after the incident:

The Brazil international shares his birthday with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who turned 33. As one of few players who could make an adequate replacement for the Portuguese, it's unsurprising Los Blancos would be interested in him, and such links will likely persist throughout his time in Paris.

Les Parisiens are unanimous in their position on Neymar, though, which is to be expected after they made him the most expensive player in history just six months ago.

Speculation will only intensify when the transfer window reopens this summer, but it would take an even more sensational deal for him to move on again so soon.