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Neymar future remains up in air as PSG reject Madrid offer – reports
PARIS, Aug 22, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Neymar remains no closer to getting his
desired move away from Paris Saint-Germain amid reports Thursday the French
club have rejected an offer from Real Madrid of 100 million euros ($111
million) plus players.
French sports daily L’Equipe said Real had offered cash plus Gareth
Bale, James Rodriguez and goalkeeper Keylor Navas, but PSG turned it down
because “the overall value of the offer did not match their expectations”.
Paris paid 222 million euros to sign Neymar from Barcelona two years ago
and their sporting director Leonardo is understood to be determined to only
sell the forward for a deal considered to be of the same value.
Real have spent the summer trying to offload Bale, while James is
unwanted after returning from a loan at Bayern Munich and Navas is no longer
the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Barcelona remain hopeful of bringing Neymar back to the Camp
Nou, but Catalan daily Sport claims an attempt to sign the player on loan
with an obligation to buy for 160 million euros at the end of the season has
been firmly rejected in Paris.
Sport claims Barcelona feel “it is very clear that PSG are trying to
prevent the Brazilian from returning to the Camp Nou in any scenario”.
PSG had previously reportedly turned down an offer from Barcelona of 40
million euros plus Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Rakitic. Coutinho has since
joined Bayern on loan.
Juventus are also believed to have stated an interest in signing the 27-
year-old, who has not featured in any of PSG’s matches so far this season
having been frozen out amid the uncertainty over his future.
The transfer window closes in France, Spain and Italy on September 2,
meaning time is fast running out for a deal to be done.
BSS/AFP/BZC/2020HRS