Santos prodigy Neymar is adamant that he made the right decision to turn down overtures from Barcelona in order to continue his career with the Brazilian outfit.

The precocious Brazilian teenager was heavily tipped to join the Catalan giants in recent months but Neymar quashed such speculation by signing a lucrative new deal with Santos to remain with the side until 2014.

"I made the right decision," Neymar told Lancenet.

"I do not regret staying at Santos at all."

"If it was not for Santos, I would not have the profile I now have inside and outside the country".

"Everything fell into place and I am having a good time, and the team too."

Neymar has been consistently likened to Argentine sensation Lionel Messi but having witnessed first-hand the supreme footballing talents of the latter with Santos having clashed with Barcelona in the FIFA Club World Cup final last month, Neymar declared that there is no one capable of standing head-to-head with the nippy frontman.

"Messi is fantastic," 19-year-old Neymar purred.

"And he has demonstrated with his goals and his playmaking. That is why he is the best in the world. There is no better."

Neymar has already registered eight goals in just 15 international appearances for Brazil.