Neymar to finalise new Barcelona contract in 'next few days' - Bartomeu

Neymar will sign a new five-year Barcelona contract in the next few days, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has said.

Neymar's current deal with Barca ends in June 2018, and talks over an extension have been ongoing for some time amid regular rumours that potential suitors such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester United could pay the 24-year-old's €200 million release clause this summer.

However, Bartomeu told a news conference on Thursday: "Neymar is not leaving Barca. He is not going to leave.

"The socios [club members] know this, and that is why -- and I don't know whether it will happen tomorrow or the day after -- Neymar is going to sign for five seasons." 

Neymar's former agent Wagner Ribeiro had recently said there was interest in the Brazil international from "three big clubs" but that he was happy at the Camp Nou, and the forward's father subsequently stressed that there was "zero chance" of a move to Madrid. 

Neymar joined Barca from Santos in 2013 and has won La Liga and the Copa del Rey on two occasions as well as the 2015 Champions League.

�� Bartomeu: "@neymarjr want to stay here. In the next few days we will finalise his contract extension" #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/wFkU9oVcUL

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 30, 2016

However, his arrival has prompted off-field problems due to the complicated nature of the transfer, with the club recently reaching an agreement with the Spanish authorities to pay €15m in back taxes and a €5.5m fine.

Bartomeu added: "It is normal that other clubs are interested in him, but I am saying this clearly: Neymar has never told us that he wants to leave.

"He wants to stay here and we want him to be here, and that is why the club's lawyers and Neymar's lawyers are working to finish this renewal and we hope it will be done over the next few days.

"But we are coming from a tax case with the Spanish revenue service and the prosecutor, and so we must write the contract very carefully. He will continue here for five years."

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