Neymar tells Barca teammates ‘he is leaving’

TIL Desk Sports/ Neymar informed his teammates he is leaving Barcelona, a club spokesperson confirmed today, as his potential world record move to Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer. “The player came to train as scheduled and announced to his teammates that he is leaving,” said the source.

“The coach has given him permission to not train and to manage resolving his future.”  Speculation over the 25-year-old’s future has dominated the first few weeks of new Barca boss Ernesto Valverde’s reign with PSG reportedly willing to pay Neymar’s 222 million euro (USD 260 million) buyout clause.

Such a fee would smash the current record 89.3 million (USD 111 million, 105.2 million euros) Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last year. Neymar arrived back in Barcelona on Tuesday from a fleeting promotional tour to China.

He turned up for training at 9am local time (0700GMT) today, but left less than an hour later. Presuming both clubs don’t come to a late agreement, the buyout clause would have to be paid to Barcelona via Spain’s La Liga to free the player from the contract he signed last year and runs until 2021.