Barcelona news: Neymar's father says Real Madrid tried to sign the superstar before new deal
According to Neymar’s father Real Madrid were one of the big European clubs who were lining upto sign the Brazilian footballer until he extended his contract with FC Barcelona last month. According to the Spanish media, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez really wanted the 24-year-old forward at the Santiago Bernabeu and was hoping he would follow in the same line as Ronaldo, Luis Figo, and Samuel Eto'o to join their arch rivals.
It was also reported that Premier League giants Manchester United and Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain were also keen on the Brazilian star. But to the disappointment of all these big clubs, Neymar Jr has extended his contract to remain at the Camp Nou for a further five years.
"Madrid were interested through intermediaries," Neymar Sr. stated in an interview with Mundo Deportivo on Thursday.
Neymar’s father believes that it would be next to impossible for any club to even come close to signing the player because of the massive release clause in his contract.
"I always said the same thing to everyone: if Neymar leaves Barca, you have to pay the €190 million release clause, plus the taxes on that money. And with everything else, it would end up being €430m."
Neymar’s father also revealed that big clubs offered big money and showed a lot of interest to make him change his mind, but Neymar had decided to stay with the Catalan club.
"The offers didn't reach him; they came to me. I know what Neymar wanted, and that was to stay," Neymar Sr. continued.
Neymar da Silva Santos Sr also revealed the person behind Neymar joining Barcelona and stated that not only is he is his teammate at Barcelona but also his “idol”.
"We all know who Messi is and what he means. He is the idol of my son and for him is a pleasure being at his side," Neymar Sr. told Cope. "He is always happy for playing together, and he is playing here for Messi.”
He also spoke of Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo and how if both Messi and Ronaldo didn’t exist maybe even Neymar would have never existed as well.
"If Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo never existed probably Neymar never existed too; the same with Pele and Maradona, both inspired a lot of players."
The 24-year-old Brazilian superstar joined FC Barcelona from Santos back in the summer of 2013 and went on to win a Champions League trophy and two La Liga titles with the Catalan club. Neymar is also one the 30 finalists who are competing for the FIFA Ballon d’Or prize.
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