Jose Mourinho says Manchester United have as much chance of cracking a safe as signing Neymar from Barcelona.
The Brazil international last week revealed a love of Premier League football and said “any player would like to work” with Mourinho or Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
But Barcelona tied the forward to a five-year contract in October, and a release clause starting at £181m increases incrementally over the course of his deal.
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Asked about a possible Manchester United move for Neymar, Mourinho told ESPN: “It’s speculation. I always try to be objective and pragmatic with clubs and to ask them what they can give me. To ask for Neymar is absurd.
“A club like Barcelona cannot and will not lose Neymar. Although Lionel Messi is still a young player with years ahead of him, he’s almost 30, and Neymar will be the great player of Barcelona post-Messi.
“So much that I think it is like trying to break into a safe – impossible.”
