Luis Fernandez, sporting director at Paris Saint-Germain, has assured fans that £198million forward Neymar has “no desire” to leave the club.
Neymar only moved to PSG last summer from Barcelona, but has been dogged by speculation that he could leave for Real Madrid at the end of the season. However, Fernandez poured cold water on the rumours, saying the record signing wants to win trophies with his current club.
“I would put my hand in the fire that Neymar will not leave,” Fernandez said.
“If PSG has brought in Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe it’s for them to win here and not leave. Neymar is eager to succeed here and bring titles. The club president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] and the fans are with Neymar.”
Much of the speculation has been a result of reports that Neymar doesn’t get along with his PSG teammates, especially after a spat with Edinson Cavani over who would get to take a penalty. But it is a school of thought that both Neymar and the club have dismissed, and indeed, the relationship with Cavani seems to have settled.
“He is very happy, very comfortable here with his teammates,” Fernandez said. “When you see him play, you don’t see what is being reported. He is eager to succeed here.
“There were reports that he had a problem with [Edinson] Cavani but those are just stories and you can see on the pitch by how they play together [and] how they pass each other the ball that this is not true.
“All of his teammates and everyone knows that Neymar is the top player and that is how it is. I see Neymar being the one that guides the team, that triumphs here.”
