Bartomeu already in France: Neymar deal finalizing?

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Josep-Maria Bartomeu has been pictured landing in the Nice airport early on Thursday’s morning. He is expected at the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League Group Stage draw which takes place in Monaco at 18:00 CET. However, he has arrived much earlier. He allegedly left Barcelona at 7 AM.

Both Barcelona-based sources, Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo, believe Bartomeu’s early arrival means he is going to get involved in the Neymar transfer talks with his Paris Saint-Germain counterpart, Nasser Al Khelaifi.

The idea of including two Barca players in the deal seems to be clear: Ivan Rakitic is expected to move permanently while Ousmane Dembele is offered a one-year loan at PSG. However, the Frenchman is allegedly unhappy with the offer as his intention is to stay at Barcelona this season.

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Earlier on Thursday, however, it has been reported that PSG have rejected Barca’s most recent offer which allegedly included Rakitic, Dembele and Jean-Clair Todibo, as well as 130 million euros in cash.

As for the UCL draw, a number of the Barcelona players will attend this event, including Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong. The Argentinean is nominated for the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award.

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