Neymar signs new five-year Barca deal
Brazil star says Nou Camp feels like ‘home’ as he agrees contract with € 250 million buy-out clause
>> BARCELONA: Brazilian superstar Neymar signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona on Friday that will keep him at the Spanish champions until 2021, saying he felt “at home” at the Nou Camp.
The deal, which was agreed in June, includes a buy-out clause of up to €250 million (US$272 million) as Barca seek to ward off interest from potential suitors across Europe.
Manchester United were reportedly chief among a number of clubs wishing to prise the 24-year-old attacker from Barcelona, where he forms part of an acclaimed triumvirate along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
“I’m very happy to renew with the club, I feel at home,” Neymar told Barcelona’s official television station.
“I thought, with my family, that it was best for me to stay here,” he added.
The Brazilian has hit 91 goals in 150 matches in all competitions for Barcelona since arriving from the Brazilian club Santos in 2013 in a controversial deal.
Barcelona, who underlined their status as European heavyweights with a 4-0 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League during the week, did not give details of how much they would be paying Neymar.
“Neymar Jr extended his deal with FC Barcelona on Friday afternoon, putting pen to paper on his contract at the club’s facilities in the presence of president Josep Maria Bartomeu,” the club said on its website.
“As the club announced, Neymar has signed a five-year deal which will keep him at Barca until 30 June 2021.”
In July a Spanish judge ruled that there were irregularities in Neymar’s 2013 transfer to Barcelona from Santos, but said it was an issue for a civil court, not a criminal court to settle.
Last month authorities reopened the case following a successful appeal by Spanish prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Chelsea star Oscar misses out but Brazil include the Real Madrid pair of Marcelo and Casemiro for the crunch clash next month with old rivals Argentina in World Cup qualifying.
Coach Tite on Friday named a strong 24-man squad for the games at home to Argentina on November 10 and away in Peru five days later.
Midfielder Oscar, out of favour at Stamford Bridge, is dropped from the squad but left-back Marcelo and defensive midfielder Casemiro are in following a calf injury and a leg break respectively.
The Sao Paulo defender Rodrigo Caio gets a call-up, as Brazil seek to cement their place at the top of South American qualifying for Russia 2018.
Argentina, led by fit-again Lionel Messi — he will line up against Barcelona teammate and Brazilian star Neymar — are fifth.
Only the top four sides are guaranteed a place in the finals in Russia in 2018 with the fifth-place finishers facing a play-off.
Messi was named in Argentina’s squad for their clash against Brazil on Friday having missed the last three fixtures through injury.
Messi had been sidelined from international duty with a thigh injury but buoyed by a midweek hat-trick for Barcelona in the Champions League against Manchester City, he returns to an Argentina team struggling in fifth spot in World Cup qualifying.
Without Messi, Argentina drew with Venezuela and Peru and lost 1-0 at home to Paraguay.