PARIS — Brazil forward Neymar posted a picture of himself wearing the 2018-19 Paris St Germain home shirt Saturday amid growing speculation that he could leave the French champions at the end of the season.

“Proud to wear the new jersey and to continue giving you joy,” the 26-year-old striker, who is recovering from foot surgery, posted on his verified Twitter account.

Media reports claim that Neymar, who joined the Ligue 1 club from Barcelona for a world record 222 million euros ($265.11 million) last August, has told PSG directors he wanted to leave the club after only one season.

The most recent articles say the Brazilian wants to move to Spanish giant Real Madrid, who originally tried to sign him in 2013 before he opted to join Barcelona from Santos.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported Friday that the player’s father and agent, Neymar Sr., had told PSG his son wanted to leave immediately.

It said his father met Real directors in December on the day Cristiano Ronaldo received the Ballon d’Or in Paris.

Neymar has been out of action since spraining his ankle and fracturing his fifth metatarsal on Feb. 25, which led him to undergo surgery in Brazil as he bids to regain fitness in time for the June-July World Cup in Russia.

Derby takes lead

Derby County moved a step closer to the Premier League after 10 years in the Championship as a Cameron Jerome header gave it a 1-0 home win over Fulham in the first leg of their playoff semifinal Friday.

Jerome rose above his marker in the 34th minute to meet an excellent cross by left back Craig Forsyth and power it past goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli to give Derby the lead against the run of play.

It was the first effort on target by either side.

“If you had given us that before the game we’d have taken it,” the 31-year-old Jerome, who joined Derby from Norwich City in January, told Sky Sports.

“It’s halftime in the tie so we can’t get carried away. The boys were magnificent and it’s a massive team effort.”

Fulham, which was eliminated in each of its three previous Championship playoff semis and failed to win a single match in the process, dominated but was let down by poor finishing.

Kevin McDonald rattled the crossbar from 20 meters in the 53rd minute and winger Floyd Ayite volleyed inches over the bar shortly afterwards as the visitors, who finished 13 points ahead of Derby in the second tier standings, piled on the pressure.

Midfielder Tom Cairney twice went close, shooting just wide in the 87th minute after Derby keeper Scott Carson had palmed away his stinging long-range effort.

The return leg is at Fulham’s Craven Cottage in London Monday.

“The good thing is, we’re just a clean sheet away from (the final at) Wembley,” Derby captain Curtis Davies said.

“Fulham, with Wolves, were the best footballing side in the division, but they’re going to have to come out in the second leg and we’ll have to look to get them on the break.”

Middlesbrough is at home to Aston Villa in the first leg of the other semifinal Saturday, with the return fixture in Birmingham Tuesday.

The winners of the two ties will meet at Wembley on May 26 to decide the final promotion spot, with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City having already secured automatic Premier League places. — Agencies