‘Real Madrid tried to sign Neymar, but PSG wouldn’t sell him for €1 billion!’

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 17 May 2021 16:14 BST
• 2 min read

The former agent of Neymar has revealed that Real Madrid attempted to sign the Brazilian for €300 million in 2019, but that Paris Saint-Germain indicated they would not even sell him for as much as €1bn.

After starring for Barcelona, Neymar became the most expensive player in the history of the game when he joined PSG for €222m in 2017.

READ MORE: Petit: Mbappe is being ‘Neymarised’ by childish Neymar

He has, however, been continually linked with a move back to La Liga with the Blaugrana, with rumours of a transfer to Real Madrid never far away from the conversation either as Los Blancos held an interest in him before the initial transfer to Barca from Santos.

Wagner Ribeiro has now provided details on an alleged bid from Real Madrid two years ago.

“At that time, he was close to going to Real Madrid,” he told L’Equipe.

“Madrid were willing to pay €300m for him. Florentino [Perez] told me, but Nasser [Al-Khelaifi] refused. ‘Not for a billion, he’s not going to go!’ He told me.”

Neymar to stay at PSG?

Worryingly for PSG, Neymar’s contract with the club runs out in the summer of 2022, meaning that if they want to claim a significant transfer fee for the Brazilian then they will need to look into the possibility of a transfer at the conclusion of the current campaign.

Due to the financial instability of football in the current pandemic, though, it is unlikely anyone will be able to afford anything close to the €222m that PSG initially paid, especially for a 29-year-old.

Ribeiro thinks Neymar is happy where he is in Paris anyway.

“He is happy there.” Neymar’s former agent said.

“No club in the world can offer you what PSG offers. Only they can afford Neymar. Madrid has financial problems. Barca? Even worse. In Italy and United or City? I don’t think so. 

“In Paris he makes a good living and plays for a very good team. This season they will win the Champions League and Neymar will land the Ballon d’Or.”

PSG director Leonardo recently revealed that the club were hopeful of securing new contracts for both Neymar and team-mate Kylian Mbappe.