"Real Madrid’s offer was a blank check, but I wanted Barca with my heart"

Neymar could have been a Real Madrid player if he had wanted to. It happened when he landed in Europe from Santos, the team he has just returned to after more than a decade in European football.

The Brazilian, star of his current club, confessed that he had an offer from Real Madrid and another from Barcelona in 2013, when he finally signed for the Catalan team. But that the 'Merengues' offer was more lucrative.

“I received an offer from both. From Barcelona, the proposal was there and from Real Madrid it was practically a blank check. Real Madrid said: 'Put it on paper and we'll pay,” he confessed on the podcast ‘Podpah’.

“Real Madrid's offer was a blank check. Yes, they told me I could have whatever I wanted, the salary was crazy. I ended up listening to my heart. Florentino always liked me. He wanted me to play for Real Madrid. I turned down his offer because I wanted Barça with my heart. I would have earned three times more if I had gone to Real Madrid. Florentino has always loved me, but I always wanted Barca,” he added.

And Neymar does not stop showing his love for the Catalan team: “My heart was with Barca. Real Madrid is a great club, I respect them, but I let my heart lead me. I wanted to play alongside Messi, plus Ronaldinho had played there. I had no doubts, it was always Barcelona”.

 

February 28, 2025