Neymar could be unveiled as a PSG player by the end of the week

Neymar’s adviser has told reporters that the Brazilian international could be a Paris Saint-Germain player by the end of the week.

It emerged on Wednesday that Neymar has informed his current club Barcelona that he wants to leave.

And French side PSG are set to acquire the 25-year-old and smash the world transfer record in the process, by paying the €222m (£198m) release clause in his contract.

Neymar’s adviser Wagner Ribeiro told reporters at Barcelona’s El Prat airport on Wednesday that PSG would pay the buyout clause "in the coming hours" and that Neymar could be presented in Paris "at the end of this week".

Neymar was joined by his father, Ribeiro, and the rest of his entourage, as they flew out of the Catalan capital on a private flight to London.

Earlier on Wednesday, Barca had publicly confirmed for the first time that Neymar wants a transfer, following weeks of speculation.

The Spanish club released a statement which read: "Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and representative, communicated to FC Barcelona this morning his decision to leave the club.

"The club have informed them that the buyout clause in his contract that from July 1 is 222 million euros must be paid in full."

Such a fee would smash the current record £89m Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last year.

Barca’s five-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has apparently given up hope of holding onto his friend Neymar.

And Messi has thanked his team mate for their four years together, which brought two La Liga titles, a Champions League and three Spanish Cups.

"It was a huge pleasure having shared all those years with you, my friend @neymarjr," Messi wrote on Instagram.

(c) Sky News 2017: Neymar could be unveiled as a PSG player by the end of the week