Report: Barcelona, Neymar to negotiate contract extension this week

The hottest fake transfer rumor of the summer window was the supposed gigantic offer from Manchester United to sign Barcelona superstar Neymar. The English papers were all over the story, going as far as to say that the Brazilian was ready to accept the offer and move to the Red Devils. As we all know, it was all crap and Neymar will stay in Catalonia for many, many years to come. He's now ready to make it official.

Reports from Catalan media claim that the player and his father are set to meet with president Josep Maria Bartomeu at the club's offices this week to finally negotiate a contract extension. Neymar Sr. has already left Brazil and will reportedly be with his son at Stadio Olimpico, where Barça make their UEFA Champions League debut against AS Roma.

As soon as the game is over and the plane returns home, both parties will have a meeting to strike a deal that will keep Neymar until 2022, with an option to sign for an extra year. Neymar's release clause will get increased, and his wages will make him the highest paid footballer on Barça's roster not named Lionel Messi. If everything goes well, the agreement will be made official and public by the end of next week, according to the reports.

If that happens, we can be happy and reassured that our present and future will remain in a Blaugrana uniform for a long time.

Bartomeu and Rosell charged in 'Neymar-gate'

Neymar's move to Barcelona is still causing the club a huge headache. According to 'Catalunya Radio', far from just fading away, the saga has now taken a new twist. A Barcelona judge has upheld the ruling made in Madrid, which means that Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell have now been formally charged for their part in 'Neymar-gate'.

According to the radio station, the court in Barcelona has asked the club, its president, Bartomeu, and its former president, Rosell, to provide a written defence of their roles in Neymar's transfer.

In doing so, the Barcelona court has taken another step towards resolving the Brazilian's transfer in court. It had been thought that moving the case to the Catalan capital would be the end of it, but that has not been the case. They now have 20 days to present that written defence to the judge.

Barcelona’s Neymar dismisses Manchester United link

Neymar insists Barcelona fans have “nothing to worry about” despite reports linking him with a world-record move to Manchester United.

Sky sources understand that United have the wage structure and transfer funds in place to sign Neymar, but have been told the Brazil international is not for sale after making initial enquiries earlier in the summer. 

Newspaper reports last week suggested United were prepared to spend £240m to bring Neymar to Old Trafford before the close of the summer transfer window on Tuesday. 

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, however, dismissed talk of a move away from the Nou Camp for Neymar and said the club were preparing to offer the 23-year-old a new long-term contract to remain at the club. 

After making his return to action from illness in Barca's 1-0 La Liga victory over Malaga on Saturday night, Neymar confirmed his desire to stay at the club and says he's happy with his current situation. 

"When I hear things like that, I don't think about it. I hear them, but I'm totally at ease. I'm very happy at Barca and with my team-mates," he told Spanish television station TV3. 

"Barca fans have nothing to worry about."

Neymar joined Barca from Santos in 2013 and scored 39 goals last season to help Luis Enrique's side complete a historic La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble. 

He remains contracted to Barca until the summer of 2018. 

The Planet Neymar, Part II: A Trip to Madrid

 He is now a Barcelona superstar, but a very young Neymar once made a trip to the club's biggest rival, and his story could have been way different today

When Robinho arrived at Real Madrid in 2005, the club started taking an interest in Neymar. He was thirteen years old. It was no mere coincidence. Arriving in the Spanish capital alongside Robinho was the Brazilian football agent Wagner Ribeiro. He knew Neymar Jr. every bit as well as president Teixeira and the legendary Zito. He'd been introduced to Neymar Sr. by Roberto Antonio dos Santos, aka Betinho, the kid's first coach. A man who'd been investing in Neymar from the time he was twelve.

From the moment Robinho reported for duty at Real, the two clubs - the white-clad bastions of world football in the 60s - had been discussing the next item on their agenda. Signed from Santos for US$ 50 million, Robinho debuted for Real during the 2005-2006 season, the same year Argentinean Lionel Messi graduated to first-team football at Barcelona.

Robinho arrived in Spain at the start of the season and made his first appearance for the club in August after considerable drama at the negotiating table - history that would repeat itself years later when Neymar signed for Barcelona, albeit under different circumstances. Santos refused to sell him for less than the sum stipulated in the release clause of his contract. Real Madrid would have to pay a US$ 50 million buyout fee or they couldn't have him.

Robinho argued that, as he owned 40% of his own contract, he could foot his part and the Spanish giants would "only" have to deposit US$ 30 million into Santos' account. The case wore on and the player decided to go on strike until the squabble was resolved. He didn't play for a fortnight and won the tug-of-war; or part of it at least.

The Brazilian club agreed to release him from his contract on the condition that Real Madrid pay the entirety of the 60% owned by Santos. The other 40% belonged to the player, who agreed to waive his right to US$ 20 million. Robinho was anxious to play in Europe, and had decided to negotiate his part with Real at a later date.

Off he went. Wagner Ribeiro went with him, eagerly telling anyone who would listen that Real Madrid could have a young firebrand on par with the super-talented Argentinean Barcelona had just unveiled to the world. Messi had moved to Spain at age thirteen. Neymar was arriving at the same age. The Spanish capital's dream team had succeeded in bringing the pre-teen promise to charming Madrid. At the time, another Neymar, the boy's father, was working as a mechanic for the Santos Traffic Company, earning roughly one thousand dollars a month. The family lived in a rented house in São Vicente. Neymar Jr.'s dream of moving up in the world, of working and training alongside the Galácticos at Real Madrid, would come at the price of being away from his family and friends, not to mention of having to adapt to the vicissitudes of life in Spain. The chance to work with and learn from the world's best and most famous footballers was simply extraordinary, and the fact that he would be staying at Robinho's home was a mitigating factor. Training at Real, he was able to meet the likes of Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Carlos.

Neymar Jr., like any other kid who got the chance, had his picture taken with all of his heroes. There were some striking moments with Robinho, his idol from Santos, and with Ronaldo. He played and also watched Real play, savoring victory after victory from the stands, even though it was Barcelona, Real's archrival, that took the Spanish league title that year.

For nineteen days the boy experienced the glamour of watching Real Madrid at the emblematic Santiago Bernabéu, secure in the knowledge that he was a star in the making, a sense buttressed by association with the greats of the Spanish game. Over the course of his trial, he scored 27 goals, leaving Real Madrid's youth team coaches drooling on the sidelines. Yet despite the apparent advantages, the kid still had his doubts. He wasn't convinced that Real Madrid, with its all-white strip, like Santos', was the best direction for his career. In a not-so-distant future, would there really be space for him in a squad brimming with superstars acquired at astronomical prices? Or would he, like so many others before him, be forced to accept a plan B and be loaned off to a lesser club, such as Granada and Rayo Vallecano, where perhaps his destiny of becoming one of football's greats would elude him? What was the best course of action for an impoverished boy like him: stay in Spain, close to the major footballing hubs of Europe, or head back to Brazil?

Neymar wasn't happy in Spain. Unlike Messi, who was more introspective, the Brazlian was outgoing and chirpy. He loved spending time with his friends, singing and dancing. His doubts and unhappiness tormented the whole Silva Santos clan. But the decision had been made: no matter how much his parents sensed that the best thing for him was to return to Brazil, Neymar would have the final say. As it would in so many decisive games he would play in the years to come, the responsibility fell on the boy's shoulders.

The Planet Neymar is a new series with stories about the Barça superstar's journey from the book "Planet Neymar: A Profile", by Brazilian journalist Paulo Vinícius Coelho.

Brazil Names Roster for September Friendly at Red Bull Arena

The Brazilian Football Confederation has announced the roster for the Brazil Men's National Team International Friendlies in September, including the September 5 match against Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena.

The roster features 11 players that were part of Brazil's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, including Neymar Jr, Oscar and David Luis. Kaka, who joined MLS' Orlando City SC ahead of the 2015 season, was also named to the roster. Kaka has 89 appearances for Brazil, including three World Cups. Kaka will make two trips to Red Bull Arena in September, as the Red Bulls host Orlando City SC on Friday, September 25. Brazil, the only nation to win the FIFA World Cup a total of five times, are coached by Dunga and finished in fourth place in last year's World Cup at home in Brazil.  The roster also represents some of the biggest clubs in the world, including FC Barcelona (Dani Alves, Neymar), Manchester City (Fernandinho), Real Madrid (Danilo), Chelsea FC (Ramires, Oscar, Willian) and FC Bayern Munich (Douglas Costa). Tickets are available by visiting Ticketmaster.com as well as calling the New York Red Bulls ticketing line at 1-877-727-6223. Fans can also purchase a Joga Bonito package, which offers fans a chance to see Kaka twice at Red Bull Arena. The package includes a ticket to the Brazil-Costa Rica match, as well as a seat when the Red Bulls host Orlando City in an important game down the final stretch of the regular season.  Brazil Roster Player Club Jefferson Botafogo (Brazil) Marcelo Grohe Grêmio (Brazil) Alisson Internacional (Brazil) David Luiz Paris Saint-Germain (France) Marquinhos Paris Saint-Germain (France) Miranda Inter Milan (Italy) Gabriel Paulista Arsenal (England) Daniel Alves Barcelona (Spain) Luis Filipe Atletico Madrid (Spain) Danilo Real Madrid (Spain) Douglas Santos Atlético Mineiro (Brazil) Luis Gustavo VFL Wolfsburg (Germany) Fernandinho Manchester City (England) Elias Corinthians (Brazil) Ramires Chelsea FC (England) Oscar Chelsea FC (England) Roberto Firmino Liverpool (England) Willian Chelsea FC (England) Kaka Orlando City SC (MLS) Lucas Lima Santos (Brazil) Neymar Junior Barcelona (Spain) Lucas Moura Paris Saint-Germain (France)  Hulk Zenit Saint Petersburg (Russia) Douglas Costa FC Bayern Munich (Germany)

Why £22m Barcelona forward Pedro could be Manchester United’s galactico signing

Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez continues to be linked with a transfer to Manchester United, and with each passing day, the move appears to be increasingly likely.

ESPN FC reported on Thursday that, despite his winner against Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, his feelings on his Camp Nou future remain unaltered; he wants regular football, and the Red Devils are ready to meet these demands.

What’s more, Louis van Gaal, the United manager, remained typically coy on a move for the 27-year-old, but hinted that negotiations could be taking place.

“You have to ask Pedro, not me. My answer is it’s a process, it’s a club, it’s a player, and we are there also,” he began, as quoted by Sky Sports.

“I don’t mention anything until he has signed. When he has signed I come to you and say ‘hey, Pedro is here’. That is still not the case. We shall wait and see.”

Pedro could be the missing piece of the puzzle that United need to beat reigning champions Chelsea, as well as rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, to the Premier League title.

SEE MORE:
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Manchester United to revamp attack by signing £129m quartet, including Di Maria replacement & Arsenal targets
Manchester United duo surely set to leave after Louis van Gaal fall-out

In terms of how Pedro could fit into van Gaal’s line up, while Angel Di Maria sealed a £44.3m move to Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of August, there still remains plenty of competition for places on the flanks from Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj, Antonio Valencia, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata.

However, in United’s opening game of the season Depay started in the No.10 position behind Wayne Rooney, while Mata was handed a start on the right wing.

It will likely be a head-to-head battle for a position between Pedro and Young – who signed a new contract that will keep him in Manchester until June 2018 – and the Spain international will surely become first-choice upon his arrival.

Pedro saw his playing time limited last season, as Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi quickly became Luis Enrique’s first-choice trio in attack, and he looks set to suffer the same misfortune if he continues his career with Barca this term.

Nonetheless, despite his limited appearances, six goals and six assists in just 1531 minutes of action – the lowest of any regular senior player for the Catalan giants – was an excellent return from the 28-year-old in the previous campaign.

His explosive pace and creativity have regularly been on show in pre-season, and his clinical match-winning finishing was on show earlier this week in the Super Cup.

His performances this summer have suggested that he has little desire to sulk over his limited playing time at the Camp Nou.

The Daily Mail report that Pedro has a £22m release-clause, and compared to the £59.7m [via BBC Sport] shelled out for Di Maria – who possessed all the credentials to become their galactico a year ago – Pedro could prove a steal this summer.

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Best La Liga to Premier League transfers EVER

Van Gaal’s second summer window of heavy spending implies that the former Netherlands manager is concerned that his team is lacking that spark required to compete on the domestic and European stage.

Real Madrid have Cristiano Ronaldo, Barcelona have Lionel Messi, Chelsea have Eden Hazard, Manchester City have Sergio Aguero, Arsenal have Alexis Sanchez; but who do Manchester United have?

At the moment they have no one to fill that sparkless void.

The Dutchman has previously voiced his frustration at not having a ‘galactico’ at United.

“We don’t have a good vision. We can use much more creativity,” he began, as quoted by The Guardian.

He even compared Young to Neymar to illustrate his views.

“Young had a fantastic season but he is not a Neymar and we have to compete with that kind of class.

“I’m thinking at that time, they have Hazard, he can always make goals, he can always make an action and decide a goal. Manchester City have Aguero, it’s the same type. Barcelona has Messi, Neymar and Suárez. We as Manchester United have to compete with these clubs. So we have to look also for that kind of players.”

Despite having signed Bayern Munich legend and World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger, perhaps it is Pedro who is capable of satisfying van Gaal’s need for a player with the fresh hunger required to reassert the Red Devils’ place in the Champions League.

A player with a point to prove.

Messi, Suarez, Neymar trident to strengthen in second Barcelona season

Luis Enrique is very fortunate to have arguably the most spectacular attacking trident in over 115 years of Barcelona history at his disposal. While the Catalans' much-improved defensive stability also played a considerable part, it is clear that the historical Champions League, Liga and Copa del Rey treble achieved last season would have been impossible without difference-makers Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Undoubtedly, Messi is the most talented footballer to ever wear the Barcelona shirt. His exquisite technique, mesmerising dribbling skills, unique peripheral vision when looking for passing options and cold-blooded attitude in front of goal make him the player every football fan on the planet dreams of having in their team.

The quadruple Ballon d'Or winner is, deservedly, the main reference up front at Barcelona. Having the freedom to roam around the team's final third in whichever way he sees fit enables him to identify, then exploit, spaces with ease, leaving rivals wondering if there is any point in spending countless hours in training trying to predict the diminutive Argentinean's movements.

One of the club's older players, the 28-year-old is handed the responsibility to lead his side to victory every time he steps onto the pitch. Some may argue this is thanks to the stability that comes from having played under the same footballing philosophy since joining La Masia back in 2000; others will say performing in front of the more supportive, loving Catalan fan base is also a factor.

However, the main reason why Messi excels at Barcelona week in, week out is his teammates' attitudes toward him. Having world-class stars such as Andres Iniesta, Neymar and Suarez all willing to put their egos aside and adapt their individual game to enhance their leader's impact makes all the difference.

While in a meet and greet session in Los Angeles during their preseason tour of the USA, a young fan approached Suarez and, while asking for an autograph, complimented him with a heartfelt "You are the best" message. The Uruguayan international, without hesitation, replied: "I'm not. Do you know who the best player is?" The smiles that followed once the kid replied "Yes, Messi" are a clear indication of the way everybody at the Camp Nou understands their role within the team.

Yet Messi's position at the very top of Barcelona's hierarchy certainly doesn't mean that his teammates simply sit back, relax and clap while the Rosario-born genius is at work. If the No. 10 is the hot favourite to win a record fifth Ballon d'Or it is precisely thanks to the invaluable support he continuously receives from those around him.

Suarez was, undoubtedly, the key man at Liverpool before completing his move to the Camp Nou. His impressive 31 goals in 33 league appearances for the Merseysiders not only granted him recognition as the English Premier League's Player of the Year in the 2013-14 season, but also enabled him to share the European Golden Boot trophy with Cristiano Ronaldo. His ability to occupy a rival's defence with his astute movement on and off the ball was the main reason why Barcelona were prepared to invest a massive €81 million to sign him.

Neymar already had 100 goals and a South American Player of the Year award for Santos by the time he turned 20. Unsurprisingly, the Brazilian teenager received numerous offers from virtually every major club on the planet as a result and the gifted forward could have very easily demanded No. 1 status from any prospective employers.

However, both Suarez and Neymar opted to join Barcelona despite being fully aware that Messi would retain his status as the club's superstar until the day he decides to retire.

Contrary to what many predicted, both South American heavyweights have in fact seen their careers boosted by their move to the Camp Nou.

Messi has been heavily involved in helping both Suarez and Neymar adapt to life in Catalunya at both professional and personal level. The atmosphere in the dressing room has certainly played a part, but the countless hours of quality time shared by players' families away from the spotlight has also created a bond is obvious at all times.

While Luis Enrique is not likely to admit it publicly, everyone is fully aware that Barcelona lack that crucial edge whenever Neymar and, especially, Messi are not included in the starting XI. Despite being the stand-out performer in the club's preseason games so far, Suarez has looked largely isolated upfront and is secretly counting the seconds until the MSN trident is reunited.

Thanks to the goals of Messi (58), Suarez (25) and Neymar (39), the Catalans' lethal frontline racked up a record 122 between them in the 2014-15 campaign, with a mind-blowing 80 of those coming after the winter break.

Considering the strong foundation which the three South American stars have built their professional and personal relationship upon, their incredibly successful partnership can only strengthen in their second season together at the Camp Nou. As long as they can remain healthy, humble and motivated, there is reason to believe the Catalans could very well be celebrating their second sextuple after the final whistle of the Club World Cup final in Japan on Dec. 20.