Will Neymar head for Barcelona? That question has dominated headlines revolving around the 21-year old Brazilian for months. Unfortunately, it seems that the new dramatic question in this ongoing saga should now be: Will Neymar ever leave Santos?
According to recent reports, the youngster will not be going to Barcelona this summer. In fact, he might not be going anywhere until after the 2014 World Cup.
Sport Live reports, "Santos president Odilio Rodrigues has confirmed the club have already rejected an approach from Barcelona for Brazilian striker Neymar."
"There is no agreement for Neymar, there are talks, I met [Barcelona's president Sandro] Rosell and [Barcelona's sporting director] Raul Sanllehi last week," Rodrigues stated on Radio A Xarxa. "We had a very frank conversation. Talks need to continue because the offer was not good enough.
"We know Real Madrid will make an offer too."
Neymar reportedly rejected a 100 million Euro offer from Real Madrid in recent weeks, so the idea of a new offer should make things interesting.
However, Neymar's father recently claimed that Neymar may no longer consider any offers until after the World Cup.
"Our position is to stay until the end of contract," Neymar Senior told Radio Bandeirantes. "And we have not heard that Santos are in negotiations to sell Neymar.
"If Santos want then I will talk with my son to see if he really wants to go. We made some plans for Neymar to stay here until 2014. If these change we must be told beforehand," he added.
Neymar Senior did reveal that Barcelona was the intended destination once the current contract expires. Neymar is signed with Santos until 2014.
"Barcelona is waiting for Neymar but for 2014. A project is in place to see how he will fit there," he said. "They put people next to Neymar to see how he would work. And Real Madrid does the same thing in the same way."