Barca linked with Santos´ Neymar

Barcelona are reportedly on the verge of signing coveted Brazilian youngster Neymar from Santos.

Neymar, 20, won three Campeonato Paulista titles with Santos and 23 caps for his country, as well as the 2011 Copa Libertadores.

The Brazilian prodigy has been linked with a move to a host of European clubs since bursting onto the scene in 2009.

But some reports suggest a pre-contract agreement with Barcelona has been in place since 2011.

Neymar, who has gone on record as saying he will not leave Santos until after the FIFA World Cup in 2014, is thought to be upset the club has sold playmaker and best friend Ganso to domestic rivals Sao Paulo.

Paris St Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City have the resources to compete for his signature, but it appears to be a race Barca have already won.

Their Brazilian fullback Dani Alves told Spanish radio station RAC1 on Wednesday: “I am looking forward to seeing Neymar and Messi play together. He would fit in very well. Barcelona will arguably have the two best attackers in the world with him.”

Neymar has an impressive 13 goals in just 23 international appearances for Brazil – already a better ratio than Messi’s 28 in 73 for Argentina.

But the Brazilian has some way to go before he matches the exploits of Messi at club level – Neymar has 48 goals in 98 appearances for Santos, while Messi has a staggering 175 goals in 219 games for Barcelona.