Neymar extends Barcelona contract until 2021

FC Barcelona star Neymar on Friday signed a contract extension with the reigning La Liga champions which will keep the Brazil captain for the next five football seasons, until June 2021.

The 24-year-old's buy-out clause has been fixed at 200 million euros ($222.7 million) for the first year of his contract, 222 million euros ($247.2 million) for the second and 250 million euros ($278.3 million) for the remaining three years.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were both reported to be interested in Neymar.

On July 15 in Barcelona, before the forward joins up with his national side for the Olympic Games, the agreement will be presented formally, according to the club's official website.

After three seasons with FC Barcelona, Neymar's statistics are outstanding. In 141 games for the Club he has scored 85 goals, 15 in his first season, 39 in his second and 31 in his third.

Neymar came to Barcelona from Brazilian club Santos in 2013. Since his arrival at the Spanish football giants, Neymar has cemented his position as one of the best players in the world thanks to his outstanding talent.

The Brazilian finished third in the 2015 Ballon d'Or award behind the winner his team mate Leo Messi.

In his time with Barcelona, he has won the league twice, the Copa del Rey twice, the European Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Furthermore, he scored in the Champions League victory over Juventus in 2015 and in the recent Copa del Rey victory over Sevilla.

--IANS

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