Real Madrid to pay £307 million for Neymar

Real Madrid are reportedly ready to pay a staggering £307 million sum to sign Neymar this summer and beat Manchester United to the PSG superstar.

According to a report by The Sun, Real Madrid are stepping up their efforts to sign Neymar in the summer transfer window. Los Blancos are prepared to pay £307 million for the PSG man, who is also a target for Manchester United, in order to avoid a £263 million release clause to come into effect after the window slams shut.

Neymar has already enjoyed one of the great modern-day careers, despite being all of 26. The Brazilian was an indispensable figure for Barcelona in a four-year stint that saw him win every major trophy in club football before he made the shock move to PSG last summer in a world record £200 million deal.

At Parc des Princes, he took no time to become a pivotal figure, with an incredible record of 28 goals and 19 assists in just 30 appearances across all competitions to boot. As he looks forward to playing a leading role for Brazil at the World Cup, speculation is rife about his uncertain PSG future, with Real Madrid and Manchester United interested in signing him.

Widespread reports have claimed Neymar is ready to depart from the French capital, just a season after making the big move to PSG, although his staggering transfer value means that there are only a few clubs that are capable of breaking the bank to sign him – Real Madrid and Manchester United being two of them.

At Manchester United, Neymar could compound a problem of plenty by becoming a fourth option in a lefty-heavy attacking unit. Alternatively, Jose Mourinho could also deploy the Brazilian international in a more central, free role to bring the best out of his explosive abilities.

Whichever way he is used, Neymar would certainly be a fine addition to Manchester United, who seem determined to bolster their attack this summer, with compatriot Douglas Costa also believed to be a target before he joined Juventus on a permanent deal. But, they could face disappointment, with Real Madrid set to step up their efforts to sign him.

The European champions are set for a crucial summer transfer window after relinquishing their La Liga title meekly before seeing Zinedine Zidane resign from his post as the first-team manager. That the future of Cristiano Ronaldo is uncertain would only put Real Madrid on their toes to secure a big-name player as they look set for a summer overhaul.

The report adds that Florentino Perez’s obsession with signing Neymar may have been a reason that Zidane quit. The Frenchman was of the opinion that the Brazilian’s arrival would cast a shadow of doubt on Ronaldo’s Real Madrid future as the club would find it difficult to keep the two big-earning players on their payroll.

But, with Zidane gone, the Real Madrid president is now ready to sanction a staggering £307 million deal to sign Neymar, beating Manchester United to the player. The figure eclipses £263 million release clause in his PSG contract that would come into effect after the transfer window closes and would see Les Parisiens keep hold of the 26-year-old till January 2019.

The deal would also be a part of a commercial operation that would see Real Madrid switch their sponsors from Adidas to Nike, who represent Neymar too. It now remains to be seen that an operation of such giant scale ends in success for Real Madrid, or if Manchester United can do something to swoop him instead.