Manchester Untied boss Jose Mourinho has dismissed claims his side could aim to buy Barcelona forward as ‘absurd’.
A report in Catalan newspaper Diario Sport stated the Red Devils were lining up a €200m bid for the Brazilian star this summer – a transfer which would more than double the current world record transfer bid.
“It's speculation, I always try to be objective and pragmatic with clubs and to ask them what they can give me,” Mourinho told ESPN Brazil.
“To ask for Neymar is absurd. A club like Barcelona cannot and will not lose Neymar.
“Although [Lionel] 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.”
The 24-year-old has netted 99 goals in four seasons for the Blaugrana since joining from Brazilian side Santos.