Ex-Santos chief reveals how close Neymar came to joining Real Madrid | OneFootball

Former Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has revealed how he personally made sure that Neymar didn’t sign for Real Madrid over 10 years ago.

Los Blancos are currently fighting it out with Barcelona for the Brazilian’s signature, but this is not the first time that the capital club have showed an interest in Neymar.

Back in 2006, the Santiago Bernabéu outfit were keen on landing a then 14-year-old Neymar after he impressed during a summer trial.

But Teixeira has claimed that he persuaded the teenage sensation to remain in Brazil and rejected the advances of one of the world’s grandest clubs.

“Neymar was blown away by the ‘galácticos’, but in time we were able to get hold of his father and make him an offer that earned him a million dollars,” the former Santos chief told AS.

“He quickly accepted. My whole board of directors told me I was out of my mind, but we all knew Neymar was something special.

“Keeping him was essential to Santos, and to what the side went on to achieve with him at the centre of it. It was a difficult decision that I had to make on my own, but it was what had to be done at that moment in time.

“Well, if he didn’t end up going there before it’s because I prevented it from happening, by taking the steps that I’ve told you about.”