Barcelona defender Dani Alves has said that his club would be "crazy" to consider letting Brazil attacker Neymar depart the Catalan giants.

Barca are believed to be preparing to open fresh contract talks with Neymar, whose current deal expires in 2018.

The 24-year-old's father revealed earlier this week that Manchester United had made a £144m offer for the attacker in the summer, but also insisted that his son is happy with life at Camp Nou.

Alves is keen for the contract saga to be addressed as he believes that his international teammate "will succeed" Lionel Messi at the club.

"Neymar is living his dream. When he was thinking about leaving, I told him to look at how Brazilians have always done better at Barca than at other clubs. Here you must understand football," Alves told ESPN.

"He has two years left on his contract, but if they do not give him a new one, they are crazy. Neymar will succeed Messi, as he is very good. Nobody is capable of doing what he can do."

Neymar has scored 21 goals in 27 Barca appearances this season.