Neymar has 'zero chance' of joining Real Madrid, insists his father
Neymar's father has responded to rumours about his son's future and says there's a 'zero' percent chance of him joining Real Madrid amid interest from Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane. The 24-year-old has been linked with big-money moves to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Real Madrid in recent weeks in the wake of his alleged involvement in tax evasion.
Neymar is seen as the natural successor – albeit not that godly – to Lionel Messi at the Catalan club. The club are set to offer him a huge long-term contract before the beginning of the new season but given his delicate situation, rumours about his future are all but natural.
Real Madrid are said to be interested in signing a high-profile forward this summer with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Neymar all reported targets. With Karim Benzema a liability given his involvement in the scandal with his national teammate in recent months, the club are said to be chasing targets to replace the Frenchman.
But Neymar's dad categorically denies these rumours and says Neymar isn't moving to the capital. “The possibility of him ending up there is zero," he stated.
“Neymar’s owners are Barcelona,” he reiterated. “Any proposals, any notifications, or any formality that comes in respect to Neymar, without question passes through Barcelona and Barcelona alone. He’s still under contract with the club and they know everything that’s going on.”
He also said that with all that's happening around the club and the player, his camp are used to the rumours. “There’s lots of speculation and it’s clear he’s become mixed up in all that. People know that there are various clubs interested in him for his football, but they don’t want to say that he’s talking to them or having any dealings.
"People have said 10,000 different things about my son. Neymar has a contract at Barcelona, and he has two years left. That’s the only certainty. He has to obey that contract, besides, he’s happy at the club. The speculation will go on like it has been for a while, but everyone’s used it by now.”
Neymar will return to Barcelona after the Rio Olympics which is set to start in the first week of August. The Brazilian winger will no doubt attract a lot of interest from rival clubs but remains a Catalan star.