Neymar’s new Barcelona contract will include the second-highest escape clause at the club, behind only that of Lionel Messi.
Mundo Deportivo reports Barca want to raise Neymar’s release fee from €190m to €220m, as Manchester United have hinted they would be willing to pay the lower figure to get the Brazil captain.
The contract, which would run until 2021, is expected to be finalised over the summer and would put Neymar’s recession clause below only Messi’s €250m, but it’s said that if Barca could put Neymar’s clause higher than €220m, they would.
It will stay below Messi’s no matter what, the Catalan publication adds, so Messi remains the most important player at Camp Nou, and talks between player and club are said to be going well.
Barca are optimistic of having the deal wrapped up by July, when the cost of it would be on the books for the new season, though part of the negotiations relates to tax issues and what would happen if Neymar is penalised by the Spanish courts for his current tax problems. If Neymar was to be fined by the Spanish authorities, it’s suggested Barca would help pay.
