Barcelona's Sandro Rosell: It's up to Pep Guardiola to decide whether we need Santos' Neymar

Dec 20, 2011 10:33:00 AM

The Catalan side's president has made it clear that he's not in charge of the club's transfer policy, but added that he thinks the Brazil star is a great player

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has admitted that it's up to coach Pep Guardiola to decide whether the 2011 Club World Cup champions need to add Santos attacker Neymar to the squad.

The Brazil international is continually being linked with a move to Camp Nou, among other clubs, and reportedly asked Guardiola to take him to La Liga in the wake of Santos' 4-0 Club World Cup final loss against the Catalans last Sunday.

Nevertheless, Rosell has made it clear that Barca are not thinking about a transfer at the moment.

"Do I want to sign Neymar? That decision is up to the coach. I'm only the president," Rosell was quoted as saying by A Tribuna.

"You can't judge Neymar on one single game. The image we have of him is based on a number of matches. We think he's a great player. We haven't spoken to Neymar. We are focussing on the current season."

Neymar signed a contract extension with Santos in November in a deal that will keep him with the Copa Libertadores champions until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Starting last month and continuing every Friday through to January, Goal.com will publish extracts from Graham Hunter's highly-anticipated book, 'Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World'. After Sunday's Club World Club final win over Santos, the latest extract details how Lionel Messi helped the Catalans claim this trophy for the very first time in their history in 2009. Don't miss it!

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