How much?
We all know Neymar is an exceptional player -- scoring 75 goals in 120 games for Barca and 46 in 69 games for Brazil earns you that title -- but it turns out Manchester United is willing to go above and beyond to make him the star of their team.
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At least that’s what Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, is saying.
Speaking in a Spanish court as the investigation into Neymar’s transfer from Santos to Barca in 2013 continues, the elder Neymar claimed that an unnamed club offered Barcelona $211 million for the player to leave the Nou Camp. Radio Cataluyna has the details on exactly what Neymar’s father said to the court, but he is claiming that the other team would pay his son substantially more than the reigning European champs could offer.
Now, it has been claimed that United have courted Neymar for some time and have been in talks with Barcelona over a deal, while the only other club said to be interested and could afford the Brazilian national team captain was Real Madrid. Neymar Sr confirmed that Real were not the club who are offering to buy his son.
So, with allegations of tax fraud looking over the Neymar family, it seems pretty convenient to mention this previous deal -- that could be resurrected -- which would make him the most expensive transfer in history by around $80 million. It is worth noting that Neymar is happy at Barca and wants to stay.
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That said, United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is said to be desperate to land a Ballon d’Or contender and with the Red Devils expected to become the most valuable club on the planet next season they can certainly afford to splash the cash despite their recent struggles on the field.
Neymar, 23, is part of one of the best attacking trios we’ve ever seen. Alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez they won the treble last season and look set to dominate Spain and Europe once again this season. He has 16 goals in 18 La Liga games this season.
However, will these tax issues and the burning desire to be the main man at a club instead of Messi’s understudy see him move this summer? This isn’t the first and won’t be the last time we hear about Neymar being linked with a move to the Premier League.
