Manchester United have been confirmed as the club who offered £145million for Barcelona star Neymar last summer by the player’s father.
Neymar Snr revealed in court this week that there was a side who had made it clear they were willing to meet his son’s huge Nou Camp buy-out clause. Neymar’s father has now named United as his big-spending suitor.
Louis van Gaal made no secret of his search for a creative star in the summer and the Old Trafford club have no qualms with splashing out for top players. The Dutch manager’s transfer spend stands at £205m in the space of 18 months but a world-record move for Neymar would have increased that figure to an incredible £350m.
“Manchester United is the side that offered €190m for Neymar,” the player’s father told radio station COPE.
“He has still two years left on his contract but you can all be calm as my son is so happy here.”
Neymar, 23, is the world’s emerging superstar and finished third in last month’s Ballon d’Or voting to decide the best player of the past year. The former Santos forward played the full 90 minutes for Barca in their 7-0 win over Valencia on Wednesday night, but failed to scored with a penalty that hit the post.
Barcelona would have no intention of selling the man they will pin their hopes to for the next decade but the presence of a buy-out clause means a deal is always possible.