Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro says striker Neymar joining Barcelona before 2014 is 'impossible'.
The Brazilian has scored 83 goals for Santos in just 144 domestic appearances, form that has seen him become a regular for his country.
And the 20-year-old hit the headlines again for his impressive performances at the London Olympics, in which he has netted two goals in three matches for Brazil.
Despite the fact that Barcelona have publicly expressed their desire to lure the prodigy to the Nou Camp, Ribeiro says any pursuit of the contracted star will be fruitless, at least for the time being.
"Neymar is a phenomenon and I'm sure that given his performances at the Olympics, this year he will be ranked among the top three players in the world - and we will not be selling him," Ribeiro told Mundo Deportivo.
"Sandro Rosell (Barcelona president) is a very intelligent man and has enough information available to him to avoid wasting time trying to talk with Neymar (about moving) now.
"Neymar leaving before 2014 is impossible."
Ribeiro also says he is happy to risk the striker leaving for free at the end of the contract, insisting that the exposure and potential for success would be worth it.
"What Neymar will generate for Santos in the next few years offsets the prospect of him leaving for nothing," he said.
"Besides, Neymar is happy here and we still have not lost hope of him continuing with us. Either way, Neymar will be free to decide his future in 2014."
The Brazilian has scored 83 goals for Santos in just 144 domestic appearances, form that has seen him become a regular for his country.
And the 20-year-old hit the headlines again for his impressive performances at the London Olympics, in which he has netted two goals in three matches for Brazil.
Despite the fact that Barcelona have publicly expressed their desire to lure the prodigy to the Nou Camp, Ribeiro says any pursuit of the contracted star will be fruitless, at least for the time being.
"Neymar is a phenomenon and I'm sure that given his performances at the Olympics, this year he will be ranked among the top three players in the world - and we will not be selling him," Ribeiro told Mundo Deportivo.
"Sandro Rosell (Barcelona president) is a very intelligent man and has enough information available to him to avoid wasting time trying to talk with Neymar (about moving) now.
"Neymar leaving before 2014 is impossible."
Ribeiro also says he is happy to risk the striker leaving for free at the end of the contract, insisting that the exposure and potential for success would be worth it.
"What Neymar will generate for Santos in the next few years offsets the prospect of him leaving for nothing," he said.
"Besides, Neymar is happy here and we still have not lost hope of him continuing with us. Either way, Neymar will be free to decide his future in 2014."
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