BARCELONA offered £98million plus Ousmane Dembele and two other stars for Neymar, it has been revealed.
A sensational swoop for the Paris Saint-Germain star appeared to be near completion just over a year ago.
Neymar came close to a return to Barcelona in 2019, it has been claimedCredit: Getty – Pool
Neymar was reportedly unhappy two years after leaving the Camp Nou in a world record deal, and the prospect of reuniting with Lionel Messi was seen as too good to turn down.
Yet, the deal failed to get over the line and former Barcelona director Javier Bordas has detailed why.
Jean-Clair Todibo and Ivan Rakitic were also involved in the mega deal, which fell through due to the transfer fee.
He told Cadena Cope: “We offered PSG £98m plus Todibo, Rakitic and the loan of Dembele.
“PSG wanted £116.5m plus Todibo, Rakitic and Dembele on loan.
“Neymar was £18.5m away from coming back.
“Neymar’s father said that he would make up the difference but in the end that didn’t happen.”
A number of reports at the time discussed Todibo, Rakitic and Dembele as part of the deal, with varying cash offers said to be tagged onto the deal.
Ivan Rakitic featured in the deal offered to Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Reuters
Ousmane Dembele also appeared in the player-plus-cash exchange, but only on loanCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It was even reported that French winger Dembele had rejected PSG in his bid to finally make the grade at Barcelona.
Ultimately, Neymar stayed put and enjoyed a hugely successful 2019-20 campaign, reaching the Champions League final and winning Ligue 1.
Rumours continue to circulate over a return to this day but the 28-year-old is said to be content at PSG while his former club struggle financially.
Former Blaugrana chief Bordas joined the club in 2010 and served under Josep Maria Bartomeu before resigning alongside the club president.
And he recalled how certain Barcelona stars agreed to delay their own salary in order to seal Neymar’s return.
He added: “I personally went there and we were very keen for him to come – we tried in every way possible
“We got PSG to tell us how much they wanted when they never accepted anything for Verratti or Marquinhos or Thiago Silva. They are not a selling club.
Some players proposed postponing part of their salary so that Neymar could return.
Javier Bordas
“Some players proposed postponing part of their salary so that Neymar could return.
“But they all had to be cut back quite a bit to make it fit in with Financial Fair Play and LaLiga.
“However, the two times that Neymar could have returned, he would have given up a lot of money.”
Watch Neymar humiliate Angers rival who shoved him with amazing ‘sombrero’ as Brazilian runs riot in PSG’s 6-1 win
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
