Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti admits there is no point in trying to keep hold of a wantaway player as speculation over Neymar’s future in the French capital rumbles on.
Although he did not specify the Brazilian in an interview with RMC Sport, Barcelona’s pursuit of Neymar and the player’s tension with PSG is football’s worst-kept secret.
Neymar has scored 51 goals in 58 games since initially joining from Barca in 2017, though has suffered numerous problems including a spate of injuries.
As yet Barca have not come up with a suitable offer to tempt PSG into sanctioning his reunion with the Spanish champions – but Verratti insists it is difficult to stand in the way of any player’s wishes.
“When a player really wants to be sold, the club should let them go, by mutual agreement with the conditions imposed by the club, of course,” Verratti told RMC Sport.
“However, you can’t keep a player who wants to leave.”
Verratti admitted that he would prefer Neymar stayed at the club and confirmed that he has never heard the former Barcelona forward mentioning he wanted to leave.
“I’d certainly hate to see him leave,” admitted the 26-year-old.
“I’ve never heard him say that he wants to leave. I don’t know what he’s said to the club, but personally I’d prefer him to stay.”
