Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says he would bet ‘an arm or a hand’ that striker Neymar will never leave the club to join Real Madrid.
The Brazilian, tipped to eventually win the Ballon d’Or one day, has been in superb form for his side this season and makes up one third of perhaps the most feared strike force in world football right now – Messi, Suarez and Neymar.
Speculation has linked the 23-year-old former Santos star with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu as club president looks to wrestle back the balance of power towards the Spanish capital again.
But speaking after netting Barcelona’s win over Sevilla on Sunday – a victory that took them eight points clear of Atletico and 12 ahead of Real – Pique said he was confident his team mate would stay.
He told reporters after the match: “I’d bet an arm or a hand that Neymar will never join Madrid. He likes Barcelona very much, he’s in love with the club and I think he’ll stay here for many years.”
He also pointed out that the Camp Nou side have many other rivals other than Los Blancos.
He commented: “Our rivals aren’t only Real Madrid. There are others in the league, like Atletico and Sevilla in the Copa del Rey, plus those in the Champions League.”
