Neymar, 20, has been consistently linked with a move to the Old Continent for two years now, but has always insisted that he will remain in Brazil until the country hosts the 2014 World Cup.
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The recent speculation of his future is largely related to player rights agency DIS, who own 40% of his economic rights. The agency has spoken of its desire to end all ties with Santos following the bitter fall-out from the transfer of Ganso across the city to rivals São Paulo.
Santos then own 55% of the rights, with another investment group owning the remainder, and Neymar insists it will be he who decides when the time is right to leave, alongside his father.
“DIS may still have some of my rights, as you know, but they don’t have responsibility for my life,” Neymar responded to journalists questions. “Those who control my life are me and my dad. From the moment you hear from my mouth, or from my dad’s mouth that I will leave, then you can start to believe it.”
As the questions regarding recent links to Barcelona and Chelsea continued, Neymar vented his frustration at the journalists: “There are always rumours and I am always saying ‘no, I’m staying’. Then, you guys always say I’m leaving. So, please, believe me for once.”
Neymar played his 200th match for Santos on Wednesday night, just 24 hours after scoring twice for Brazil in Poland, in a further display of the lengths he is prepared to go to for his side.
