Report: Real Madrid Plots Neymar Transfer From Barcelona, Willing To Splurge

Neymar has risen to the top of the club soccer world with FC Barcelona, but Real Madrid wants to pluck the Brazilian star from the tree of its greatest rival.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will try to sign Neymar from Barcelona, Spanish newspaper AS’ Javier Matallanas reported Sunday. Matallanas didn’t specify when Real Madrid would pursue Neymar but claims Perez wants to finally sign the player he came close to landing in 2013.

Neymar is set to begin contract negotiations with Barcelona in the near future, but Matallanas reported Perez is willing to pay both the $221 million release clause Neymar’s current contract contains and exceed whatever salary Barcelona offers him.

If Real Madrid meets Neymar’s release clause, he can negotiate with Real Madrid and leave Barcelona if he so decides. However, Neymar has no desire to cross Spanish soccer’s biggest divide, ESPN reported Monday, citing Spanish magazine Sport.

Neymar, 23, is thriving at Barcelona, but tax and other legal issues could drive him away from Spain altogether, according to Sport’s Luis Mascaro.

Manchester United reportedly is interested in signing Neymar. The Premier League club is one of the few with the financial clout to pay Neymar’s transfer fee and meet his salary demands. The Red Devils tried to sign Neymar in August, but he wasn’t willing to leave Barcelona at that point in time.

Whether Neymar changes his stance on his Barcelona future in the near or distant future remains to be seen.

Thumbnail photo via Manu Fernandez/Associated Press