“He was close to joining PSG”, Ribeiro said. “He would have earned €40m a year, free”, his agent Wagner Ribeiro said, as noted by The Guardian.
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“Neymar was also close to a move to Manchester United”.
The 24-year-old has always been considered one of the top players in world football following his performances for the La Liga champions and Brazil. PSG were ready to pay the buy-out clause of €190m. Reportedly Neymar would have been offered £650,000 a week or €40m (£33.8m) post tax.
With Neymar absent, Barcelona have won all four of their games without him. “But he renewed his contract for less money with Barcelona, because he wanted to stay in Barcelona”. If that were to happen, it would be the first time since Neymar made the move to Barcelona that neither would take part in the same game. “Any proposals, any notifications or any formality that comes in respect to Neymar, without question passes through Barcelona and Barcelona alone”, he further added.
He eventually penned a new contract in Catalonia, which runs through to 2021, and has a €200m buyout clause after the first year, rising to €222m the following year and €250m by 2019.
The Brazilian scored 27 goals and assisted another 16 in the 2015-16 season playing for Barcelona.
Wagner Ribeiro told ESPN Brazil that the forward was offered a contracted that would have netted him €770,000 a week, and that United were interested, but Neymar chose to remain at the Nou Camp.
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Neymar is now back from the global break and into training for weekend clash against newly promoted side Alavés.
