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Neymar cools Manchester United transfer talk, insisting he wants to stay at Barcelona

The Brazilian told France Football that he wants to stay with Barca, playing alongside Lionel Messi

Tuesday 16 May 2017 11:55 BST

Neymar says he wants to play with Messi and remain in Barcelona (Getty)

Neymar has claimed this season has been his best yet at FC Barcelona as he reaffirmed his commitment to the Nou Camp club amid interest from Manchester United.

The Brazilian forward has been outstanding for Barca in a campaign that has flashed and frustrated in equal measure, culminating with Luis Enrique's departure and a Champions League humiliation by Juventus.

But despite those performances and Neymar signing a new five-year contract in October, reports have persisted linking the 25-year-old forward with a move to Old Trafford - a move that he says he isn't interested in.

Neymar has been linked to United despite signing a new deal in October (Getty)

“What I want is to play with the best in the world and Leo Messi is the best player in the world," he told France Football.

“It’s been an excellent season for me. I think it’s my best since I arrived at the Club. I am scoring goals and creating goals,” he added. "This year I have felt really good."

Neymar has won two La Liga titles, one Champions League and the Copa del Rey twice with the Nou Camp club - and they are likely to add at least one trophy to that haul over the next fortnight.

He scored a hat-trick at the weekend as Barcelona beat Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, but the league title is still out of their hands with Real Madrid boasting a game in hand.

Manchester United summer transfer targets

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1/8Manchester United summer transfer targets

Manchester United summer transfer targets

Ivan Perisic, Inter Milan

United want to spend £35m on Perisic but Inter are holding out for closer to £50m. That said, Mourinho is a big fan and may be willing to go the extra mile to get him. Likelihood: 7/10

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Manchester United summer transfer targets

Renato Sanches - Bayern Munich

Sanches was being chased by United before deciding on Bayern Munich last summer but is back on their radar again 12 months later. He is available for £43m and Ancelotti has admitted United are "a possibility".

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Manchester United summer transfer targets

Fabinho - Monaco

An extremely versatile player Mourinho sees him more as a defensive midfielder and could be used to give Paul Pogba, last summer's big addition, more freedom. Monaco aren't in any rush to lose any more first team stars this summer though and are likely to demand a hefty fee. Likelihood: 7/10

AFP/Getty Images

Manchester United summer transfer targets

Eric Dier - Tottenham

United have already had a bid less than £25m rejected for the defensive midfielder and know they must more than double it to have any hope of signing Dier, who is understood to want the move.

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Manchester United summer transfer targets

Nemanja Matic - Chelsea

Nemanja Matic has twice worked under Jose Mourinho before and he wants to make it a third time at United. However, after beating Chelsea to Romelu Lukaku, relations between the two clubs have been soured somewhat.

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Manchester United summer transfer targets

Gareth Bale - Real Madrid

The Real Madrid forward would be a marquee signing, the type that the Manchester United boardroom are keen to make, and The Independent has been told by sources from both United and Madrid that a deal is 'much likelier' than ever before. The player himself though is happy in the Spanish capital. Likelihood: 5/10

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Manchester United summer transfer targets

Willian - Chelsea

Mourinho is a huge admirer of Willian, who he signed in 2013 while at Chelsea. The pair won a Premier League title and League Cup double together the following year and it is believed that the United manager will do his best to sign the player, who has not been a regular starter in Antonio Conte’s system. Whether Chelsea will allow him to leave, particularly to join Mourinho at their rivals is yet to be seen. Likelihood: 4/10

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Manchester United summer transfer targets

Andrea Belotti - Torino

Another of Europe’s most promising players, Belotti is fast becoming well-known after his outstanding performances at Torino, where he has scored 37 goals in 64 appearances since 2015. His best years are still ahead of him aged just 23, which contributes to the incredible €100m release clause, applicable only to clubs outside of Italy, negotiated into his contract. Torino are in no hurry to sell and will drive a hard bargain with any deal likely to start at upwards of £70m. Likelihood: 7/10

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Should the Bernabeu club win at Celta Vigo on Wednesday - or even grab a point - then they will have the upper hand going into Sunday night's La Liga finale.

Indeed, a win at Malaga on Sunday would then crown them as champions, with Barcelona finishing second and hoping for some tiny glory in the Copa del Rey final against Alavés on May 27th

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