Neymar Manchester United link dismissed by Barcelona

Barcelona have rejected speculation linking Neymar with a world-record transfer to Manchester United and will offer to extend his contract.

Sky sources understand that United have the wage structure and transfer funds available to sign Neymar but have been told the 23-year-old is unavailable after making initial enquiries last week.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu quashed talk of a move for the Brazil forward and said the club's desire is to secure him to a new long-term contract. 

"Those are just rumours and what people write but there is nothing to it," Bartomeu told Catalan radio station Catalunya Radio.

"Neymar is happy at Barca. We don't want Neymar to leave at all.

"He is a young player that has an international football projection above the norm. He has helped us a lot in our recent successes.

"In a few months' time we will discuss his contract extension as he has three years left on his current deal. We want him to stay for many years, three, five, 10 or even 15 years more with us."

The forward's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, also moved to play down the possibility of a transfer earlier this week. 

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"There is nothing. He has three years left on his contract," Ribeiro told Brazilian newspaper GloboEsporte. 

"The British newspapers are very speculative. Barcelona have never thought of selling Neymar and he is very happy there."

Neymar enjoyed a successful 2014/15 season, scoring 29 goals as Barcelona won a historic treble. 

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