AP Interview: Barcelona says Neymar will not be sold

Josep Maria Bartomeu, president of FC Barcelona, discusses his soccer team, Thursday, July 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan),

Josep Maria Bartomeu, president of FC Barcelona, discusses his soccer team, Thursday, July 20, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan),

NEW YORK (AP) — Neymar is not for sale, according to Barcelona President Josep Bartomeu.

Speaking Thursday during an interview at The Associated Press, Bartomeu said: “He is not on the market.”

The 25-year-old Brazilian striker joined Barcelona for the 2013-14 season, and last October the club announced a three-year contract extension through 2020-21.

Reports in European media have said Paris Saint-Germain wants to buy Neymar, who combined with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to form an attack that led Barcelona to the Champions League title in 2015 and a pair of Spanish league championships.

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Bartomeu says “he has a contract for the coming four years and, of course, we count on him. He’s part of our team. He’s part of this trident.”

Neymar’s deal includes a buyout clause that increases from 200 million euros ($230 million) in its first year, to 220 million euros ($253 million) in the second year, to 250 million euros ($288 million) in the third year.

Bartomeu says “these clauses are impossible to activate, if you want to comply with the financial fair play. If someone doesn’t want to comply, then of course it can be activated.”

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AP Sports Writer Ricardo Zuniga contributed to this report.