Real Madrid denies making Neymar offer

After reports in Spain suggested Real Madrid has made a world-record offer for Neymar, the LaLiga giants denied the claims.

Published : Jul 03, 2018 15:01 IST

Real Madrid has issued a strong denial after reports in Spain claimed a world-record offer has been made to Paris Saint-Germain to buy Neymar.

The Brazil superstar has been linked with Madrid ever since leaving LaLiga rivals Barcelona for PSG last August.

PSG paid a world-record €222million to trigger Neymar's release clause but, although the forward fired the club to a domestic treble, reports have indicated he has failed to settle in Paris.

Spanish public broadcaster TVE reported on Monday that Madrid have offered PSG €310m to bring the Brazilian back to LaLiga.

But Madrid quickly hit back at the claims with a statement that denied making any contact with PSG or Neymar over a possible blockbuster transfer.


"In light of information broadcast tonight by TVE regarding an alleged Real Madrid offer to PSG and their player Neymar, Real Madrid wish to state that this information is absolutely untrue. Real Madrid has made no offer of any kind to PSG or the player," the statement read.

"Real Madrid are surprised that the Spanish public television network would choose to broadcast entirely false information without anyone from the outlet having first contacted any of the parties concerned to corroborate the supposed information, which would have been quite easily discredited."

TVE's report said Madrid would be prepared to pay Neymar €45m a year in a seven-year deal to tempt the 26-year-old back to Spain.

Madrid is looking to rebuild following the shock departure of Zinedine Zidane after the French coach led the club to three consecutive Champions League titles. He has since been replaced by former Spain coach Julen Lopetegui.

The LaLiga giant has already signed goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and Brazilian teenager Rodrygo Goes in the close-season, but Neymar would add yet more daunting firepower to an attack featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Neymar clashed with PSG strike partner Edinson Cavani on multiple occasions over set-piece duties, refusing to allow the Uruguay international to take a penalty that would have made him the club's record goalscorer.

The Brazilian already had a hat-trick in that 8-0 Ligue 1 demolition of Dijon and, after scoring his fourth of the game from the spot, he was whistled by PSG fans.

Neymar then missed the last two months of PSG's season, including a Champions League clash with Madrid, after fracturing his foot in a win against Marseille.

He returned to his homeland for treatment and during his absence speculation about his future intensified, although PSG team-mate Marquinhos has suggested the Spanish media is behind the rumours.

Zidane added fuel to the fire when he said Neymar would be "compatible" with Ronaldo in Madrid's attack.

Neymar, for his part, has described rumours he might move to Madrid as "nonsense", with the fit-again forward now on international duty with Brazil.

Tite's side qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Monday - hours before Madrid's denial of a bid to PSG - with Neymar opening the scoring in a 2-0 defeat of Mexico.

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