Published on 12:00 AM, December 30, 2012

Neymar to stay at Santos

Brazil star Neymar is to stay with Santos in his homeland until at least after the 2014 World Cup, according to his father Neymar da Silva.
Neymar senior said his son did want to play in Europe to further his career development but told Friday's Barcelona-based Sport daily: "This is what he wants (but) he will do it in 2014."
He added that was why his son's Santos contract had been shortened from 2015 to 2014 to allow him to showcase his talents through to the World Cup on home soil as a home-grown star.
Even so, his father warned that "if Neymar is not happy" or Santos found that it would be better to sell him on financial grounds then that could conceivably be an option.
Were that to transpire then the 20-year-old forward is set to head off to Spain's La Liga with Barcelona.
"Barca, of course. Barcelona's football is similar to that of Neymar, isn't that so?" said Neymar senior.
Even so, while admitting to early contacts with the Catalan club, he conceded that "it could be Barca will not want him in 2014."