The Paris Saint-Germain star’s father and agent is in talks with the club over a new deal, but the player’s options elsewhere are also being considered.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar has been mulling his future for some time now, AS has learned, and remains undecided over what the next step in his career should be.
At the end of March, the player’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, revealed that he was in talks with PSG over an extension to a contract that expires in 2022. Alongside those discussions, however, the Brazil star is also weighing up his options elsewhere, with Real Madrid keeping a close eye on his situation.
Real keen on Neymar but don’t want war with PSG
He remains a player that Madrid chief Fl orentino Pérez would love to take to the Bernabéu, having already tried to sign him on several previous occasions. However, Los Blancos want it to be the player who makes his move to trigger such a transfer.
The 13-time European champions have a lot of respect for PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi and – as proved by their three public denials that they were talking to either Neymar or Kylian Mbappé last summer – are reluctant to become embroiled in a transfer war with the Qatari.
Neymar calm over future, focused on Copa América
The message coming out of Neymar’s camp is one of calm, not least because it is felt that now is not the time for him to make any decisions over his future. He has the whole of the summer still ahead of him, and as things stand he has no intention of positioning himself in any direction – for example, by agitating for a move, as Madrid would like.
He wants to take his time and assess what his best and most workable options are: after all, he is well aware that a departure from PSG would not be straightforward, particularly as – contrary to some reports – his contract at the Parc des Princes does not include a release clause.
What’s more, he is totally focused on the Copa América, to be held in his native country from 15 June – a tournament in which he will have a key role to play for the hosts.