Santos President Luis Alvaro de Oliveira says striker Neymar has given his word he will stay with the club until 2014.
Reports in Spain maintain the 20-year-old will be free to negotiate with favourites for his signature Barcelona after the London Olympics, something de Oliveira says is not true and he will still be with Santos during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
“Neymar told me he is going to continue with us, at least until 2014, and I will remind you that along with his father he is a man of his word.
“He has given me that word and he will be at Santos until 2014,” he told Radio.com.
De Oliveira believes Neymar will develop as a player in his native country and that Santos do not need to sell him because they are financially sound.
“We don’t need to sell him but there will come a day when he will want to play in Europe and the decision will be his.
“There is a signed contract that says he stays at Santos and when that ends he can go to Europe with Barcelona, Real Madrid or any other big club, or he could even remain here.”
In that regard de Oliveira insists he will fight ‘more than once’ to keep Neymar at the club to see him become the new Pele.
“As a friend of Neymar I would like him to carry on here for many years, as happened with Pele,” he added.
