Real Madrid has released a statement insisting it has "no plans" to make an approach for Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar.
The European champion has been heavily linked with a move for the Brazil forward as a big-name replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus in a €112million move this week.
Neymar, who scored twice at the World Cup in Russia, was already believed to be in the club's sights prior to Ronaldo's shock decision to pursue a new opportunity.
But the LaLiga giant has moved to put an end to speculation by claiming it has not held discussions with the former Barcelona man over a potential return to Spain.
"Given the constant information linking the PSG player Neymar with our club, Real Madrid CF wants to clarify that it has no plans to make any offers for the player," a club statement read.
"The relationship between the two clubs is extraordinary, so that, if at some point Real Madrid were considering signing a PSG player, the first thing it would do would be to go to his club."
Neymar became the world's most expensive player when he swapped Barca for PSG in a staggering €222 million deal less than 12 months ago.
Despite completing a domestic treble, he is rumoured to have already grown frustrated in Paris with a last-16 exit at the hands of Los Blancos prematurely ending the Ligue 1 club's hopes of winning the Champions League.
Madrid's decision to turn its attention away from Neymar could see it step up its reported interest in Chelsea's Eden Hazard, while Kylian Mbappe has also been described as a potential heir to the throne left vacant by Ronaldo, the club's all-time leading scorer.
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