Real Madrid To Rival Barcelona In Race To Sign PSG Star Neymar
9th August 2019
Luka Modric is mentioned as a possible makeweight while Philippe Coutinho, who reportedly rejected an offer from Tottenham this week, could be included in an offer from Barcelona
- Real Madrid will rival Barcelona in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar this summer, according to reports in the Spanish press on Friday.
- Madrid have shifted focus to Neymar after the close of the English Premier League's transfer window on Thursday ended their hopes of signing Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba
- Sports newspaper AS claims the Brazilian has been offered to Madrid by PSG, who are open to selling if they can either recoup the 222 million euros they spent on him in 2017 or receive half that amount
MADRID, Spain-
Real Madrid will rival Barcelona in the race to sign Paris Saint-Germain
striker Neymar this summer, according to reports in the Spanish press on
Friday.
Madrid have shifted
focus to Neymar after the close of the English Premier League's transfer window
on Thursday ended their hopes of signing Manchester United midfielder Paul
Pogba.
According to Marca,
Neymar has "returned to the scene" with the club "believing for
some time that the team is lacking a big star up front".
Sports newspaper AS
claims the Brazilian has been offered to Madrid by PSG, who are open to selling
if they can either recoup the 222 million euros they spent on him in 2017 or
receive half that amount, with players included in the deal.
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It means La Liga's
two greatest rivals are set to go head-to-head in the battle to sign Neymar
before the Spanish transfer window closes on September 2.
Barcelona newspaper
Mundo Deportivo says the 27-year-old will wait until August 20 for Barcelona to
make a decisive move, after which "PSG's number 10 does not rule out any
option in order to leave the French champions, where it is clear he does not
want to stay any longer."
But Mundo adds that
"it is clear Neymar wants to play for Barcelona" while Diario Sport
agrees, writing that "the winning card Barca continues to hold is the will
of the striker to runite with players like Leo Messi and Luis Suarez. With them
he has a great understanding on the pitch and also a strong friendship off
it."
Marca believes
Madrid also have factors in their favour. "Neymar's priority is not to go
to Barcelona. His priority is to leave the PSG," wrote Marca, also citing
their "magnificent relationship" with PSG, "quite the
opposite" of how the French club view Barcelona.
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Luka Modric is
mentioned as a possible makeweight while Philippe Coutinho, who reportedly
rejected an offer from Tottenham this week, could be included in an offer from
Barcelona.
Sport admits
whichever team signs Neymar will "inflict a blow on their rivals by
snatching a star player from the other's grasp".
"From now on,
it will be Neymar that decides," Sport added. "Barcelona want the
player to go public but he understands such a move would be risky. If Barca and
PSG do not reach an agreement he would be stuck in the French capital for a third
year."