Santos denies Neymar deal with Barcelona

 RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian top-flight club Santos released a statement on Friday denying speculation¹ it has agreed to sell striker Neymar to Barcelona.

Catalan daily Sport reported on Friday that Barcelona had already made a down-payment of 10 million euros for the 20-year-old as part of an agreement to eventually sign the player for 40 million euros.

"Santos rejects any possibility of selling Neymar to Barcelona or any other team," the statement said.

"There are no negotiations² taking place. The club reiterates³ that the striker has committed to Santos until 2014 and the contract will be honored until the end."

According to the Catalan newspaper, the deposit was paid to Santos on June 30 this year.

Neymar last week emphatically told reporters of his desire to remain at the club he joined as a 12-year-old until the 2014 World Cup.

"When you hear from my mouth or the mouth of my dad that I am leaving, then you can believe it," Neymar said.

"There are always rumors⁴ and I have repeatedly said that I am staying. But you (the media) keep insisting that I will leave. So please, believe me for once."

1 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

3 reiterates   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The Chinese government reiterates that the question of Taiwan is China's internal affair. 中国政府重申，台湾问题是中国的内政。 来自汉英非文学 - 汉英文件
• Wang Jianzhou reiterates a fact and a viewpoint in Davos. 王建宙在达沃斯重申一个事实和一个观点。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》