Barcelona forward Neymar was offered €50 million (£42m) over five years to sign for Paris Saint-Germain this summer, as well as a chain of hotels in his name, his agent has revealed.
The 24-year-old star joined the Catalan giants in 2013 from Brazilian outfit Santos and has slotted in seamlessly ever since.
However, the Brazil international has frequently been heavily linked with some of Europe’s top guns, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United among the few sides who could afford his salary and transfer fee.
And Neymar’s agent, Wagner Ribeiro, has revealed how the French giants did indeed offer the former Santos star a hefty pay packet.
Ribeiro also revealed that PSG offered to pay Neymar €50 million over years, give him private jets to take part in matches for Brazil and a chain of hotels in his name.
“We were talking for two hours and Neymar was excited,” Ribeiro told ESPN Brasil. “Al-Khelaifi explained that tax would not be an issue and he’d be No. 1 in the team, which cannot happen at Barcelona.
“I told Neymar it was an unrealistic proposal, he’d become the highest paid player in the world.
“If Neymar stayed in Barcelona it’s because he’s happy there, in the club and the city. I wanted him to go to PSG but his father advised him to stay.”
Neymar – who previously had a £161 million (€193m) release clause – signed a new deal earlier this summer until 2021, with a release clause of £167m (€200m) for the first year of his contract.
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