Tuesday, 28th June, 2011
Brazilian wonderkid Neymar has a decision to make over his future after the race for the 19-year-old’s signature took a serious turn.
That the striker has a release clause of €45M has been appreciated for some time, but until now that amount had not been met. Neymar’s club Santos though have revealed that the magic number has been reached – and by no less than five sides.
Those clubs are thought to be Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Anzhi Makhachkala. Indeed, a move from one side has flushed out the others, with none able to contemplate losing out on Neymar to a rival.
Santos readily admit they do not want to part with Neymar, but now the decision has been taken out of the Copa Libertadores winners’ hands.
“We don’t want to sell the player”, said Santos’ president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro to ESPN Brasil, “but of course there is a release clause in his contract that can be paid and five European clubs have offered to match the clause.”
And despite Ribeiro confirming he would not name those clubs that have met the clause, their identities are thought to be Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, English moneybags Manchester City, Russian upstarts Anzhi Makhachkala, where Roberto Carlos plies his trade, and Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea.
Now the decision lies with Neymar as all the five interested parties have been granted permission to speak to the Brazil international.
Neymar had been adamant that this is not the best time to leave Brazil and the player’s love for Santos and his homeland led him to reject an approach from Chelsea in January. However, with Santos now having won the Copa Libertadores, the starlet may reason there is little more to achieve in South American football.
Latest Features:
