The 20-year-old forward is playing for Brazil at the Olympics, but that has not stopped him being linked with a move to La Liga, with both Barca and Real Madrid hoping to secure his signature.

However, the 42-year-old trainer has now moved to dismiss rumours that Neymar could be set to join his side.

"I've never spoken about signing Neymar," he told Marca.  "You journalists are the ones who wrote the stories."

Vilanova went on to speak of how he is well aware of the expectations the public have of the side ahead of the start of the season.

"We've had four and a half years of glory. It is always difficult to prolong the cycle, but this is what we are going to try to do, for a few more years," he said.

"We are going to try and play in the best way, just like we have been doing in the last few years."

Barcelona's first match of their Liga campaign is against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on August 19.