Manchester United fans have every right to be excited about the Red Devils summer transfer plans.
Few clubs are going to be able to complete with the kind of money Jose Mourinho is set to be given at the end of the season, with Antoine Griezmann the most high-profile player being seriously linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Neymar is another name that has been thrown into the ring, but Mourinho himself isn’t optimistic.
The Brazilian only signed a new contract with Barcelona in October, and it would cost at least €200million to activate his buyout clause.
While his 14 goals and 23 assists for the Blaugrana this season would certainly make him an attractive proposition, Mourinho clearly isn’t willing to entertain the speculation.
Offering a refreshing dose of reality, the Portuguese told ESPN Brasil:
“It’s speculation. I always try to be objective and pragmatic with clubs and to ask them what they can give me. To ask for Neymar is absurd.
“A club like Barcelona can not and will not lose Neymar.
“Although Messi is still a young player with years ahead of him, he’s almost 30, and Neymar will be the great player of Barcelona post-Messi. So much that I think it [trying to sign Neymar] is like trying to break into a safe, impossible.”
Interestingly, there’s been no such dismissal of the Griezmann rumours.
The United boss has hit the nail on the head, though, when he suggests that Neymar could go onto become the world’s greatest player once Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo retire – even more reason why Barca aren’t going to let him go.
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