On Thursday, Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo published a long interview with the father of Barcelona"s Brazilian star Neymar.
In the interview, Neymar"s father talks about the situation of the Barcelona player behind the scenes and explained that the businessman Wagner Ribeiro is “difficult to control." Neymar"s father also confirmed that he talked to people linked to Real Madrid, who were interested in signing the Brazilian, but ensures that none of this affects his son. According to Neymar Sr., Real Madrid expressed their interest through intermediaries, who heard that Neymar is happy in Barcelona, and that he would only leave if the release clause and taxes are paid in full.
He said: “[Wagner] is a great friend of mine, we have been together for more than 12 years, he has always followed my son"s career and I learned a lot from him. Today everybody knows who my son"s agent is, which I am. Yes, some things arrived. I cannot prohibit people from going to Ibiza [where Neymar spent his vacation] or wherever it was. Wagner Ribeiro is the one who brought the proposal of PSG. There are things that I don"t control 100%, imagine if I can control Wagner…"
“I receive a lot of people in my office in Brazil; sponsors, people keen to support the Neymar Institute, and of course, some people come to know if Neymar has a future at another club. But I"m very clear on this; to get him away from Barcelona, you have to try to take away the happiness that he has here. If he wanted to chase money, everyone knows he wouldn"t be at Barça. But Neymar is happy where he is and has made some strong friendships."
On the interest from Real Madrid, Neymar Sr. said: “Madrid were interested through intermediaries. I always said the same thing to everyone; if Neymar leaves Barça, you have to pay the €190 million release clause, plus the taxes on that money. And with everything else, it would end up being €430m. The offers didn"t reach him; they came to me. I know what Neymar wanted and that was to stay."
On Thursday, Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo published a long interview with the father of Barcelona"s Brazilian star Neymar.
In the interview, Neymar"s father talks about the situation of the Barcelona player behind the scenes and explained that the businessman Wagner Ribeiro is “difficult to control." Neymar"s father also confirmed that he talked to people linked to Real Madrid, who were interested in signing the Brazilian, but ensures that none of this affects his son. According to Neymar Sr., Real Madrid expressed their interest through intermediaries, who heard that Neymar is happy in Barcelona, and that he would only leave if the release clause and taxes are paid in full.
He said: “[Wagner] is a great friend of mine, we have been together for more than 12 years, he has always followed my son"s career and I learned a lot from him. Today everybody knows who my son"s agent is, which I am. Yes, some things arrived. I cannot prohibit people from going to Ibiza [where Neymar spent his vacation] or wherever it was. Wagner Ribeiro is the one who brought the proposal of PSG. There are things that I don"t control 100%, imagine if I can control Wagner…"
“I receive a lot of people in my office in Brazil; sponsors, people keen to support the Neymar Institute, and of course, some people come to know if Neymar has a future at another club. But I"m very clear on this; to get him away from Barcelona, you have to try to take away the happiness that he has here. If he wanted to chase money, everyone knows he wouldn"t be at Barça. But Neymar is happy where he is and has made some strong friendships."
On the interest from Real Madrid, Neymar Sr. said: “Madrid were interested through intermediaries. I always said the same thing to everyone; if Neymar leaves Barça, you have to pay the €190 million release clause, plus the taxes on that money. And with everything else, it would end up being €430m. The offers didn"t reach him; they came to me. I know what Neymar wanted and that was to stay."
