Neymar has deal with Barcelona: Alves

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Barcelona defender¹ Daniel Alves says Neymar has already signed a deal to join Barcelona after his contract expires with Santos in July 2014.

　　The comments come a week after reports that Premier² League outfit³ Manchester City is preparing to pay 55 million British pounds to sign the striker this European summer.

　　Real Madrid and Chelsea are also keen to secure the 21-year-old but Alves is adamant⁴ Neymar has already made up his mind.

　　"He knows what is happening and the deal that he has, which is to come to the club in the near future," Alves was quoted saying by Brazilian daily Lancenet.

　　"If I were him I would come as soon as possible because it would allow him to improve the tactical side of his game before the (2014) World Cup. Apart from that he would be coming to a club that would suit the qualities he has as a player."

　　Last year reports in Spain said Barcelona had already made a 14 million-euro down-payment for the Brazilian starlet, who has also been urged to join the Catalan club by football legend Pele.

　　"I have already told him what I think. He knows what Barcelona can offer because I have made it my duty to tell him," Alves said. "But at the same time I can't grab him and bring him here. If I could I would have already done it. It's his decision."

　　When asked if Neymar could reach the level of four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi, Alves was noncommittal.

　　"I don't know if he can reach the level that Messi has reached but he could reach a similar level," he said. "When you think about what Messi has already achieved, it's complicated. But there are players who have stood out in their generation and Neymar can certainly do that."

1 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

2 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

3 outfit   

n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装

参考例句：

• Jenney bought a new outfit for her daughter's wedding.珍妮为参加女儿的婚礼买了一套新装。
• His father bought a ski outfit for him on his birthday.他父亲在他生日那天给他买了一套滑雪用具。

4 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。