Training spat has Barca pals asking Neymar to stay
Real captain would welcome Mbappe
MIAMI, July 29, (AFP): Barcelona star teammates said Friday they have begged Neymar to resist the temptation of moving to Paris St Germain after a training ground altercation with new signing Nelson Semedo.
The French giants are supposedly ready to launch a record-breaking $256 million (218 million euros) move for Neymar, sparking exit fears.
The unsettled 25-year-old Brazilian stormed off the practice pitch in disgust and has yet to commit his future to Barcelona ahead of the transfer deadline, still more than a month away.
“It’s true, something did happen, but that’s sometimes what happens in training,” Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta said.
“All the talk about Neymar right now, everything is magnified. Things like this can happen. It’s a personal decision for him, but of course we want him to stay.”
Strike partner Luis Suarez has formed a deadly partnership with Neymar and echoed Iniesta’s calls for the interest from PSG to be dismissed once and for all.
“As soon as he clarifies the situation it’s better for us and him. He will have his say when he is ready and as a teammate I will support him,” Suarez said.
“Our relationship won’t change. We want him to stay.”
Boss Ernesto Valverde swerved the media on the eve of the match with arch-rival Real, but Neymar’s praises.
“For me, he’s one of the best players in the world. He brings so much to the team and hopefully he will stay for many years,” Iniesta said.
“He is worth more than $200 million or $300 million. His playing style suits us and he can only improve with us.”
Neymar made an appearance at a Nike shop in Miami on Friday afternoon to celebrate the release of his new boots.
But the superstar striker refused to talk about the speculation and just
Iniesta sang posed for photographs with fans a day after the training spat at Miami’s Barry University training complex.
Barca are set to return to Spain after the clash at the home stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Neymar is still lined up to travel to China on business for the La Liga giants.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos says French teen striker Kylian Mbappe will become a welcome
Neymar #11 of Barcelona dribbles past Chris Smalling #12 of Manchester United in the first half during the International Champions Cup match at
FedExField on July 26, in Landover, Maryland. (AFP)
addition for the reigning Champions League and La Liga champions should he decide to leave Monaco.
The 18-year-old forward is wanted by Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, with the Spanish giants poised to make him one of the most expensive players of all time in a move that could cost around $211 million (180 million euros).
Ramos was adamant Mbappe has the qualities to become of the best in the world.
“It’s not a decision for me but Mbappe is a great prospect. There are not young players around like him. We have an important year ahead of us and already have excellent players,” Ramos said ahead of Saturday’s meeting with arch-rivals Barcelona in Miami.
“But it’s money which moves football and people can pay what they want. If he wants to come to Real Madrid, the doors will be open.”
“We will see what happens,” Zidane said. “He’s a good player. They are our most important rivals but we lost our last match against Manchester City and we want to put in a strong performance.
“We are happy, want to perform, we want to be physically better. That’s our goal, but we are so happy to be here.”
Cristiano Ronaldo kept the International Champions Cup organizers waiting until the very last minute before deciding he would not be playing.
The Portuguese star has been in Asia completing commercial obligations and is expected in court on Monday in Madrid to testify in a taxevasion case, meaning his presence in South Florida was always highly doubtful.
“Unfortunately, Ronaldo’s personal commitments precluded him from being here,” Charlie Stillitano, chairman of organisers Relevent Sports, told the Miami Herald.
“He really wanted to be here. This is not a diva situation. He was hoping that he could make it. He waited until today to let us know, but it just didn’t work out. We still have the two best teams and the top stars minus one.”