The WhatsApp that put Barça on red alert over Neymar's PSG move

The WhatsApp that put Barça on red alert over Neymar's PSG move

Albert Soler explicó que el Barça no supo nada de la marcha de Neymar hasta finales de julio / | EFE

Barcelona deny having any prior knowledge that Neymar would leave the club

Albert Soler says the first he heard of it was when he received a message in July

Barcelona director Albert Soler wanted to kill the idea that the club's hierarchy knew for a long time that Neymar was going to leave and sign for Paris Saint-Germain. Soler insisted that they only learned of the threat of the Brazilian leaving during the tour of the United States, but Neymar didn't tell anything until he communicated that he wanted to leave shortly before paying his 222 million euro buyout clause. 

"We only found out [for certain] the day that Neymar officially communicated to us that he was going. The rumours began at the end of July. Both the president and I didn't receive any informtation before then. It's not true. From there, if anyone wants to speculate... the important thing is that the player has taken a decision. Regardless of if it was July 19 or July 25. If the player has taken a decision, he's the only one responsible for that decision. If it was taken before, we don't know," said Soler, who said he had proof in the form of a WhatsApp reveived on July 19. 

"There's a WhatsApp in which I am told that PSG want Neymar. It's from July 19. The good thing about WhatsApp messages is they have a date on them. Not in January, not in March, on July 19," Soler said. 

On the players knowing earlier than that, he continued: "We're not going to get involved in the relationship between the players. They have their private lives, we respect that and we understand. We try to manage the club the best way we can. When the stories began with PSG and Neymar during the tour, we got to work. Neymar's a difficult player to replace in sporting terms. The problem's not having 222 million euros, but not having Neymar with us anymore. We would like him to be here, anyone that says 'what luck that Neymar's not here' is lying."

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