Neymar will stay at PSG to end Real move rumors

Neymar has declared that he will stay at Paris Saint-Germain in the coming season, denying reports about an imminent move to Real Madrid.

Speculation has been rife that the Brazilian forward will join the Spanish giants, less than a year after his world record 222 million-euro transfer to PSG capital from Barcelona.

"Yes, I will stay in Paris. I have a contract with PSG. The speculation? The majority of it is invented by the press," the 26-year-old told reporters.

"I have a contract and people know the objective, the reason why I went to PSG. I want to win with this club and I hope this season will be wonderful."

The comments came just days after Real Madrid issued a statement saying the club would not pursue Neymar.

Speaking during an event for his charity - the Neymar Jr. Institute - in Sao Paulo, Neymar said the disappointment of Brazil's World Cup quarterfinal loss to Belgium two weeks ago had already subsided.

"My sorrow was big, it was a very tough sadness - the biggest I have had in my career. It has passed now, though," he said.

"Now I have to think ahead, rest, and appreciate the time with my family, my girlfriend and do the things that make me happy. We take positive things from the World Cup. Of course the sadness is much greater because we knew we had the team and quality players [to win]. But for things that happens in football, we could not."

Neymar also hit back at critics who accused him of diving during football's showpiece tournament in Russia.

"As for what they said about me, I have to take it playfully," he added. "I have always been like this, an athlete who always took things well. The way I play is always the same. It was not today that I started to be targeted. I started aged 17, suffering many fouls, many hard tackles. It is part of the game.

"My football is about dribbling and beating the opponent. I cannot say to him: 'Just let me score.' Do you think I want to suffer fouls all the time? No -- it hurt. After the games, I get ice for hours. Whoever does not understand this and has not lived this will never understand it."

The Brazil and PSG No. 10 said he was pleased for club teammate Kylian Mbappe, who was instrumental in France's World Cup triumph.

"He is a phenomenon, a great player," Neymar said. "Those of us who see him every day knew that a long time ago. I'm very happy that he had a great World Cup. I speak with him nearly every day. We're going to be happy to welcome him back to PSG as a world champion."