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The 24-year-old forward, who just completed his third season
at Barca, has attracted the attention of several leading
European clubs but his present employers are keen to play down
talk that Neymar could soon be plying his trade elsewhere.
"Neymar will stay," Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez
said on the club's official website (www.fcbarcelona.com).
"He will reach an agreement with Barca and he will be here for a
long time," he added. "The club will make it public when the
extension is to be made."
Neymar scored 31 goals in 48 appearances last season to help the
club win a domestic league and cup double.
Fernandez is also confident that central defender Javier
Mascherano, who has two years left on his current deal with the
Catalan giants, will remain at the club.
Mascherano has been linked in the Spanish media with a move to
Italian side Juventus but Barca will not want to lose another
defender after Brazilian right back Dani Alves was confirmed to
be leaving the club after eight seasons on Thursday.
When asked about Mascherano, Fernandez said: "We are clear. We
will reach an agreement. He is a vital player for us and I don't
have any doubts about whether he will stay."
The 31-year-old, who can also be deployed as a defensive
midfielder, has been a regular for Barca since his arrival from
Liverpool in 2010.
(Reporting by Adriana Garcia; Editing by John O'Brien)
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