Ronaldinho has encouraged Neymar to ‘follow his heart’ as speculation mounts that the Barcelona star is set to complete a world record move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar

The 25-year-old is said to have already agreed a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 giants who have been instructed by Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu to activate the €222million release clause in his contract if they wish to sign the Brazil international.

‘They have to pay the clause, down to the last peseta,’ Bartomeu told ESPN.

‘We want Neymar to stay but the clauses are there. If he wants to go, they can pay it and he goes.

‘You know that players decide if they want to leave, they can decide. But as far as Barcelona, we want him, and we need him. Because if we want to win, we need the best players possible.’

However, Barca believe no club is capable of paying that sort of money — plus the taxes, wages and bonuses included in the deal — without breaching UEFA’s FFP regulations and will ask European football’s governing body to investigate where the money came from.

PSG have previously fallen foul of FFP regulations and, along with Manchester City, were punished by UEFA in 2014.

The Ligue 1 club were ordered to play past editions of the Champions League with only 21 players in their squad, while spending on new signings was capped at around €55m-per-season as punishment for breaching the rules. They were also fined €20m a year for three years totalling €60m, but only the first year’s fine was imposed.

As a repeat offender, Barca feel that PSG could be hit with suspension from UEFA competitions if they are found to have broken the rules to sign Neymar.

Catalan publication Mundo Deportivo reported: ‘Neymar will leave the club as soon as the PSG pays its clause of recession this week.

“This was communicated by the player himself to his closest friends last Thursday, the same day he had the friction with Nelson Semedo during training held at the facilities of Barry University in Miami.”

Neymar’s training ground bust-up with new boy Semedo further added fuel to the fire, and is believed to have all but confirmed his exit from the Nou Camp.