Barcelona presidential candidate promises to sign "two top players", including Neymar

Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud has insisted that he will oversee Neymar’s return to Camp Nou if he is elected as Josep Maria Bartomeu’s replacement at the Catalan club.

Neymar continues to be linked with a return to the team that he left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, although the Brazil international has opened a lawsuit against his former club, allegedly claiming that they owe him €44m (£39.5m).

Rousard is bidding to become Barca’s new president and has insisted that he will bring the 28-year-old back to Camp Nou if he is appointed, while the entrepreneur has promised ‘another top player’ will also arrive.

“We will sign two top players, one of them is Neymar,” Marca quotes Rousard as saying. “We are working to bring him back to Barcelona… if he withdraws the demands he has against the club.

“We hope to be able to announce shortly the name of the other franchise player that we want to bring. It will not leave anyone indifferent. We have a direct line with the player.”

Neymar scored 105 goals in 186 appearances for Barca, winning two La Liga titles and the Champions League, before leaving the club in search of pastures new.