Barcelona manager Javier Bordas has revealed that his club is close to restoring the services of Brazilian star Neymar from Paris St Germain after negotiations between the two sides on Tuesday night.
"There is no agreement so far. We are still negotiating but we think we are approaching the deal," Bordas told reporters shortly after returning from Paris, where he met club officials.
Asked if the talks were about the money, he said: "Yes, absolutely." According to the newspaper "Le Parisien" that Barcelona has offered an amount of 170 million to be paid in two installments and may include one or two players moving in the opposite direction.
The Catalan club sent former Frenchman Eric Abidal, chief executive Oscar Grau, and Bordas to Paris on Tuesday to negotiate the return of Neymar to the Catalan team he left in the summer of 2017 for a world record deal of 222 million euros. The meeting was also attended by Neymar's manager, Benny Zahavi. On the Parisian side, Brazilian sports director Leonardo and general manager Jean-Claude Blanc were present.
Neymar reportedly told Leonardo on Monday that he wanted to move to Barcelona and not to any other club.
The Spanish daily Sport reported that Tuesday's meeting would be "crucial" between the clubs' management "after the first meeting failed" in mid-January.
"The goal is to sign with Neymar before September 2," the paper said. "Barcelona will make an offer of 170 million euros," she said, adding that Frenchman Osman Dembele, the current Barcelona winger, may be part of the transfer deal.
Neymar, who is chased by Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus, will be sacked on loan with a mandatory option to buy him for 170 million euros or sell him in a deal involving Dembele who refuses to leave Camp Nou.
The German coach Thomas Tughl referred to the management of Paris Saint-Germain, asking whether Neymar will be in the squad that beat Toulouse on Sunday in the league "can play if the situation between him and the club is clear."
He stressed that Neymar, who has a contract with the French champions until 2022, is "ready to play," but the final decision is up to Brazilian sports director Leonardo, who returns to the club's sports department after a six-year absence.