Neymar insists he has never been happier at PSG in hint he may snub Barca return

Neymar has opened the door to extending his contract at Paris Saint-Germain beyond next year, saying he has never been happier at the club.

The Brazilian star's current deal expires in the summer of 2022 and he has been linked with a return to former club Barcelona.

But, making a rare press conference appearance ahead of PSG's Champions League semi-final, first leg against Manchester City on Wednesday, Neymar hinted he could commit to the club after all.

'I have got time on my contract here at PSG. We want to do what is the best for everyone,' he said.

'I have already said that I am happy here and I feel much better than in the previous seasons.'

Having already overcome Barcelona and then Bayern Munich in the last two rounds, PSG now have their sights set on a second consecutive Champions League final.

Neymar, who signed for the club in 2017, believes they can go all the way despite the fierce challenge of Pep Guardiola's side in the semi-finals.

'Since I arrived here, the club has improved, the club if more respected,' he said.

'When people talk about PSG now, they know it is among the four, five, six best teams from across all the leagues. Now PSG is getting the respect it deserves.

'This year, we are going to do everything to get our hands on the trophy.

'When I joined PSG, I said our priority was always the Champions League and winning it and being amongst the best. We managed to reach the final last year for the first time in the club's history.

'Now, we are in the semi-finals. This means we have been improving and that is down to the people, the coaching staff, and I think we have everything it takes to be champions. We are on the right path.

'I think everything is on track, we have to keep working hard and playing well in order to win the trophy that we want.'

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino was desperate to play down the narrative of the two-legged semi-final being a personal duel between himself and Guardiola.

The two managers met several times in the Premier League when Pochettino was Tottenham manager as well as in a thrilling Champions League quarter-final in 2019, which Spurs won on away goals.

He said: 'It is one team playing another, not a personal battle. It is going to be a battle between two very good teams.

'When you talk about Pep Guardiola you are talking one of best coaches in the world, if not the best. I admire him a lot and not only because of the titles he has won.'

On that particular tie, which Spurs won despite a 4-3 defeat and VAR controversy at the Etihad Stadium, Pochettino added: 'There's nothing you can take from two years ago. It was completely different game, approach, teams.

'City today are different and I am in PSG, a completely different team to Spurs.'