Report: Barcelona allow Neymar, father to decide future amid PSG links
Barcelona officials are seemingly prepared to withdraw themselves from the transfer saga involving Brazilian star Neymar.
The Catalan side is believed to have grown fed up with ongoing reports linking Neymar with a lucrative transfer to Paris Saint-Germain and will allow the player and his father to decide the course of action, sources revealed to ESPN Deportes.
Despite rejoining his teammates for a pre-season tour of the United States, Neymar has yet to address reports that PSG triggered the €222-million buyout clause in his contract.
Related: How Barcelona should spend €222M if Neymar actually leaves for PSG
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Sources told ESPN that Barca officials aren't willing to continue "playing a game that they do not want to play."
"At Barcelona those who want to play will do so. Nothing more can be done," the unnamed source said.
Related: 5 reasons why Neymar's move to PSG makes sense
The revelation contradicts the team's public stance, as club president Josep Bartomeu insisted Thursday that Neymar is "not on the market," and such a transfer would be impossible if PSG intends to abide by Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
There is, however, a suggestion that PSG has manufactured a plan to avoid violating FFP rules by allowing Neymar, who signed a new contract until 2021 last fall, to pay the release clause himself before presumably being reimbursed.
It was also reported Thursday that Neymar's entourage was responsible for initiating talks with PSG, who was previously linked with a move for the 25-year-old last summer.