Barcelona have blocked payment of a 26-million-euro ($31-million) bonus for star attacker Neymar as speculation mounts that he will move to Paris Saint-Germain, a source at the club said yesterday.
The Brazilian football star, who is due to come back for training today morning, is at the centre of an apparent tug of war between the two European giants in what would be the most expensive transfer fee in football history.
Speculation is mounting that the 25-year-old could quit Barcelona for PSG for a world-record 222mn euros.
“These 26mn euros have been placed with a notary pending to see if the player continues,” the source, who refused to be named, told AFP.
The renewal bonus was agreed on a year ago when Neymar extended his contract with Barcelona until 2021, and was due to be paid to the player after he completed a year.
But the club has decided to put it on hold pending to see how the situation evolves.
The contract Neymar signed also increased an early termination clause from 200 to 222mn euros, which PSG is reportedly willing to pay.
Neymar’s future is the talk of Spanish football, and particularly Barcelona supporters.
After a successful pre-season tour in the United States that saw Barcelona win against Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid, the footballer flew to China for a promotion trip.
But he studiously avoided commenting on the situation.
Today, Barcelona players resume training after their summer break, with a double session in the morning and in the afternoon.
 Neymar has been called to the training, the club source said, although Spanish sports media doubt he will show up.
Neymar, meanwhile, triggered a guessing game on his return from China yesterday, posting a video on social media apparently from Dubai but leaving his final destination — Paris or Barcelona — a mystery.
 As speculation mounts of an imminent record-busting transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar’s video appeared to be from the first class lounge at Dubai airport.
 The 25-year-old forward, who was in Shanghai on Monday fulfilling a sponsor’s engagement, also posted a photo with the caption in Portuguese: “Lunch at half-way”. 
 In another video posted from an aeroplane, Neymar jokes around with an image messaging app that superimposed a Spanish flag and a small plane on his tee-shirt — suggesting he is indeed headed home to Barcelona.
 The decor in that video was identifiable as from an Emirates aeroplane.
 Earlier reports claimed that he was headed from China to Doha, to meet PSG’s Qatari owners and pass a medical before his reported 222-million-euro ($260mn) move from Barca.
 But his being on an Emirates plane rules out Doha as a possible destination given the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and its Gulf neighbours.
 Other reports had said the Barcelona forward could be headed directly to Paris after deciding to quit the Spanish club.
 BeIN Sport, like PSG backed by Qatar, said in a tweet in Arabic on Monday that Neymar had decided to leave the Catalan club, citing a club management source at Barcelona.
While Neymar has studiously remained silent about his future, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde is expecting him back at the club today for the resumption of training, although Spanish sports media claim he won’t turn up.
 In his four years with the Catalans he has won the Champions League in 2015, La Liga twice, the Spanish Cup three times and one FIFA Club World Cup.