Perez: Neymar almost joined Real

Despite having only being re-elected as Real Madrid President yesterday, Florentino Perez has certainly been busy. After claiming that both Alvaro Morata and Cristiano Ronaldo would stay at the club this summer in spite of interest from elsewhere, the 70-year-old has gone one better, claiming that Barcelona forward Neymar almost joined Real Madrid in 2013.

Neymar has gone on to prove many of his critics wrong, forming part of the feared 'MSN' triumvirate at Barcelona. But in an interview with Spanish radio station 'Onda Cero' Perez claimed that "Neymar passed a medical with Madrid" but that the Bernabeu-based side later withdrew from the deal. 

After failing to seal a deal for the Brazilian, 'los blancos' then turned their attention to Gareth Bale who they successfully lured away from Tottenham in exchange for a then world-record £86million. Despite enduring an injury-hit spell with Real, Perez said that the Welshman had given the club "much satisfaction" during his 4-year stay.