Barcelona to insert £180m release clause in Neymar’s new five-year deal

Barcelona are ready to make Neymar the second highest-earner at the club, with a bumper new five-year deal.

According to Sport, Neymar’s net earnings would rise to €12m (£8.5m) and a buy-out clause rising to €250million (£180m) will be inserted, if Josep Maria Bartomeu wins the elections.

Bartomeu was Barca’s vice-president, when Neymar moved to the club from Santos in 2013 and was called to stand trial over an alleged €13m (£9.5m) in taxes, the Spanish treasury claims should have been paid on the transfer.

The deal will only be signed off if Bartomeu wins the election next month. He is likely to contest against Joan Laporta, who has not officially announced his ambition.

Neymar’s current contract expires in 2018.

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