Barcelona president discusses Neymar & Lautaro transfers

A move for Neymar is unattainable while there is still hope for signing Lautaro Martinez for Barcelona, informs Josep Bartomeu.

Neymar has been linked with a return to FC Barcelona ever since shortly after his blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain, but the links have intensified in recent times.

There have been talks that Lionel Messi wants out of Camp Nou due to the lack of a proper structure at the club. While Barca are unwilling to part ways with him, they have already started to prepare for life after their star.

And the Catalans view Neymar, who was immensely successful during his four-year stay at the club between 2013 and 2017, as the ideal man to take the mantle following Messi’s departure.

However, president Josep Bartomeu recently ruled out bringing back the Brazilian.

“We wanted to sign him last summer, but his club refused,” he told Barcelona’s official channels, via Marca. “Neymar is not for sale, it’s the truth. It is logical that PSG do not want to sell him.”

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez is reportedly another target for Barca. Their interest in the 22-year Argentine is not exactly hidden, as this transfer saga has been going on for several months now.

“We were in talks with Inter about Lautaro,” Bartomeu added. “We were talking, but we decided to stop [the discussions] when football resumed.

“Now we will see what happens, what idea the [new] coaches have.”