Real Madrid News
Real Madrid made a €45 million offer for Neymar in 2011, confirms Florentino Perez
Neymar is currently in Barcelona for a hearing over alleged fraud filed against him, his parents and former Barça presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu for corruption during his 2013 move to Camp Nou.
As part of the proceedings, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was present in the hearings via video conference. The Spaniard revealed key insights into Real Madrid’s pursuit of the player back in 2011, even confirming that the club had made an official bid for Neymar.
“Real Madrid made an offer of approximately €45 million for Neymar, but the player chose where to go and he chose Barcelona,” Perez said (h/t Mundo Deportivo) in the hearing.
The Real Madrid president went on to suggest that he had no deep knowledge of the negotiations back then and the fact that Real Madrid were not very active in the transfer saga.
“We were interested, I think like 10 years ago, that’s how the Real Madrid sports management told me, although I didn’t talk to him about it. I had no knowledge,” he said.
Perez also said he had no knowledge of DIS having any rights over Neymar’s transfers. indicating that Real Madrid had made no efforts to gain knowledge of the player’s internal contract.
“I don’t know or remember if DIS had rights over Neymar. I remember that they sent us a letter. I don’t remember having met or having conversations with Juan Figer. It doesn’t sound like anything to me. We have provided all the documentation to the summary,” he said.
DIS is a Brazilian investment company, who are the one to lodge a complaint against Neymar and the former Barcelona presidents for the alleged corruption in the transfer.
The company had owned 40% of the player’s transfer rights, but they allege that Neymar and Santos worked together to transact money through other means, without the knowledge of DIS.
Real Madrid News
Ancelotti could renew contract with Real Madrid if he wins the Champions League – report
The continuity of Carlo Ancelotti hinges on several factors and journalist Mario Cortegana, while writing for The Athletic, has confirmed that if Real Madrid do not sack him at the end of the season, the Italian will continue to serve the team at least until his current contract, which runs until 2024.
Furthermore, the report also states that Ancelotti could even be handed a contract extension if he leads the team to the UEFA Champions League triumph once again.
It is more than evident that Ancelotti’s Real Madrid future is far from certain. Ever since the managerial role at the Brazilian national team opened up, the 63-year-old is being pursued by the South American team.
Cortegana writes that even though Ancelotti is quite happy at Real Madrid, there remains a possibility that he will, indeed, accept the Brazil role if he were to leave the Spanish capital city as he sees this job as an appealing end to his managerial career.
At Real Madrid, he knows that he will have to keep winning trophies and this season, the La Liga honour is more or less lost. But with the possibility of winning the UEFA Champions League still open, Cortegana has reported that if the Italian does, in fact, succeed at winning the European crown, he might end up renewing his deal with the team.
At the moment, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is trying to keep a respectful distance, but there is absolutely no denying the fact that they have made him their absolute priority.
“Ancelotti is not only the players’ favourite but it seems the fans’ too,” said CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues about Ancelotti.
“Everywhere I go in Brazil, in every stadium, he is the first name the supporters ask me about. They talk about him in a very affectionate way, in recognition of the exemplary work he has done in his career,” he added.
Ancelotti is aware that Brazil want him and Brazil know Ancelotti is ready to join, but everything hinges on what happens with Real Madrid this season.
If they end up winning the Champions League or even if Madrid decided to stick with him until his contract expires [2024], Brazil will be forced to look for alternatives. If not, one can expect the Italian to be the new head coach of the Seleçao.
