Barcelona reveals Neymar had medicals with Real Madrid before signing for them

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, has revealed that big rivals Real Madrid, tried to hijack Neymar’s move to the Nou Camp this summer, right until the moment when he was signing his contract with them.

The two La Liga clubs were favourites to land the Brazilian forward from Santos, but Neymar publicly declared he was eager to team up with Lionel Messi at Barca and eventually sealed a €57 million switch to the Spanish giants. That however, did not stop Madrid from trying to snatch him.

“When we reached an initial agreement with Neymar’s father, the player had already passed a medical with Madrid, so we joked we would not bother with our own check-up,” he told television station TV3.
“When we were signing the contract, Madrid were sending emails to Santos.”

Rosell also dismissed speculations that Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, could replace Victor Valdes at Barca, whose deal runs out this season. The Spain No.1 has failed to regain his first-team place from Diego Lopez.

He said: “Casillas will not sign because he is an icon of Real Madrid and I could not see him with the club badge on his chest, the same way I wouldn’t like to see Xavi in a Real jersey.”