Neymar showed his importance to Barca with a brace against Juventus (Picture: Getty)
Neymar showed his importance to Barca with a brace against Juventus (Picture: Getty)

Neymar’s father offered the Barcelona superstar to Manchester United, City and PSG this summer, though only the French club are capable of circumventing FFP rules to sign him.

According to Marca, Neymar senior has contacted several top European clubs this summer as he tries to auction off the 25-year-old, though his release clause of €222 million (£199m) has proved too costly for the Premier League duo.

Even PSG are struggling to pay it, and have been forced to find more creative ways of getting around Financial Fair Play rules.

Neymar’s father held talks with Barcelona bosses in New Jersey on Saturday (Picture: Getty)
Neymar’s father held talks with Barcelona bosses in New Jersey on Saturday (Picture: Getty)

Their current plan is to hand Neymar a personal sponsorship contract via Oryx Qatar Sports Investments – who are tied to PSG – which would allow him to buy out the release clause himself.

The deal would therefore not impact the club’s accounts, as it would involve only Barca, Neymar and the investment group, and allow PSG to offer him the massive contract he is demanding.

However, UEFA have cracked down on such loopholes previously, but PSG believe it is a risk worth taking if it means they can sign Neymar.

Barca president Josep Bartomeu hinted as much previously, saying: ‘These clauses are impossible to activate if you want to comply with Financial Fair Play. If someone doesn’t want to comply, then of course it can be activated.’

After saying he was ‘200% sure’ Neymar would stay, Bartomeu then added an FFP caveat (Getty)
After saying he was ‘200% sure’ Neymar would stay, Bartomeu then added an FFP caveat (Getty)

The deal continued to gather pace over the weekend as Neymar senior met with Barcelona bosses to table PSG’s interest and discuss a potential move.

After Neymar scored twice against Juventus in a pre-season friendly on Saturday evening, Mundo Deportivo report that his father then met with the Barca leadership who have travelled to the US in New Jersey.

Bartomeu has travelled back to Catalonia, but vice-president Jordi Mestre, directors Javier Bordas and Raul Sanllehi and CEO Oscar Grau remain in the United States.

They met with Neymar senior on Saturday, who underlined his son’s desire to leave, and further talks are planned over the coming days.

The Brazilian has already agreed personal terms with PSG and given his word that he will move to the French capital, having used them to secure a new contract in the past.

He will sign a six-year deal and earn €30m (£26.9m) per season after tax, matching the astronomical deal Lionel Messi signed with Barca, while he will also be handed a €40m (£35.8m) signing-on bonus.

MORE : Barcelona eye Manchester United transfer target Ousmane Dembele as Neymar replacement