Santos: Neymar won't be sold this year

Santos: Neymar won't be sold this year

Published Aug. 4, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

The president of Santos is adamant his star striker Neymar will not leave the club until next year at the earliest.

Luis Alvaro De Oliveira has admitted to holding talks with his counterparts at Barcelona and Real Madrid, Sandro Rosell and Florentino Perez, regarding the 19-year-old.

But the Brazilian club is determined that he will spearhead their Club World Cup campaign in December and play for them in 2012, their centenary year.

De Oliveira told radio programme Al Primer Toque: "Rosell has asked me about Neymar, but we do not want to sell him, at the earliest, until next year.

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"I have spoken to Rosell, he is an interesting and elegant man, like Perez. I met him at the farewell for (former Brazil and Barca striker) Ronaldo. Neymar is not only wanted by Madrid, he is of interest to Barcelona, Chelsea, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain. It is normal.

"There will always be dialogue, but we want Neymar to fulfil his contract with Santos."

Neymar's deal with Santos is due to expire in the summer of 2014.

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