It looks like Neymar will be heading to Barcelona after all.
Sports Illustrated reports that the 21-year-old's club Santos has agreed to a $32 million deal with Barcelona to send Neymar to the Camp Nou. The deal also reportedly includes two friendly matches between the Santos and Barcelona, one in each team's home.
The deal was reportedly completed Friday night after a great deal of controversy and drama. Recent rumors had the forward playing in Munich next year. Others speculated that Real Madrid would be Neymar's next club. Barcelona was always the front runner and a number of its players and staff members had stated an interest in bringing Neymar to be Lionel Messi's sidekick.
"Only the player knows if he will sign for the club or not, nobody else knows," Messi recently said, as reported by ESPN. "For us he would be a marvelous addition. He is the type of player who offers individual solutions different from the rest. He is a great player, who is very good in one-on-ones with opponents."
"Players like him can fit in at any club," Barcelona midfielder Xavi told reporters a week ago. "But decisions to sign players are made by others. Whomever arrives at the club, they will be welcomed with open arms."
"Neymar is an amazing player; there is something different about him," he added. "For defenders, he is very tricky to contain and he is excellent when on his own in front of the keeper... He looks like he could be one of the big names in world football."
The front office also complimented the growing star.
"Messi, Xavi and (Andres) Iniesta are all awaiting him with open arms. Neymar coming to Barcelona will put an end to two types of over-dependence: dependence on Neymar at Santos and over-dependence on Messi at Barcelona as we would then have another player at his level," said Barcelona representative Andre Cury in a radio interview.
According to ESPN, Santos had accepted two proposals for Neymar. Though no information was provided, it looks like the team may have given its star player the chance to pick his destination.
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