PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi vows Neymar will stay at club
Neymar will "2,000 per cent" be at Paris St Germain next season, club chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi has vowed.
The Brazil forward brushed aside speculation over his future by bagging a brace in the Ligue 1 leaders’ 4-0 win against Montpellier on Saturday in a game that saw Edinson Cavani become the club’s record goalscorer.
Former Barcelona star Neymar has been linked with a move back to Spain, with PSG’s Champions League last-16 opponents Real Madrid reportedly interested in signing the 25-year-old.
But after the game, Al-Khelaifi told l’Equipe: "When I listen (to the rumours), I smile because it is not true.
"We have Neymar, he is very happy here, he is happy to score. We signed five years here. It’s been four months. I do not think he wants to leave.
"He is a fantastic player. There is a link between him and the fans.
"The link with Real? It makes me laugh when I listen to that. These are rumours. You ask me to answer rumours.
"All is well, we have a very big game against Real Madrid. It’s important to focus on this game and not listen to the rumours. We do not want to enter the game of the Spanish press.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi congratulates all-time leading scorer @ECavaniOfficial 😍#Cavani157 pic.twitter.com/6RKBUVbXpE
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) January 27, 2018
"Will he be there 100 per cent next season? Not 100 per cent, at 2000 per cent."
Cavani opened the scoring in the 11th minute to surpass Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s haul of 156 goals and set a new record for the Parisian club.
Al-Khelaifi added: "It’s very important for him, for the club. Edi is a great scorer, a great striker, a great man. We are very proud of him. The most important thing is that he enters the history of PSG. He deserves this record."
Neymar’s double - the first from the penalty spot - was sandwiched by an Angel Di Maria strike as PSG returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 following their defeat at Lyon.
The only downside for the hosts was an injury to defender Thiago Silva - but boss Unai Emery said it was only a "small muscle pain".
Emery added: "I hope he has only a small injury and he can be ready for the next matches."
Montpellier coach Michel Der Zakarian said: "We played at a big team. We made a shy start to the match.
"After the penalty, I do not know if in the other direction (the referee) whistles for us.
"After you leave the door open and they quickly exploit it thanks to their talented players."
