Santos vice-president Odilio Rodrigues has revealed that the club have rejected an offer from Spanish champions FC Barcelona for Brazil international ace Neymar ahead of the summer transfer window, Sky Sports understands.
Neymar, 21, is expected to stay at the Estádio Vila Belmiro until at least the 2014 World Cup.
A number of Europe’s top clubs have been linked with the Brazilian sensation, including the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, but Barca are viewed as one of the favourites to land the two-time South American Footballer of the Year (2011, 2012).
“There is no agreement for Neymar, there are talks, I met [Barcelona’s president Sandro] Rosell and [Barcelona’s sporting director] Raul Sanllehi last week,” Rodrigues told Radio A Xarxa.
“We had a very frank conversation. Talks need to continue because the offer was not good enough.”
In addition, Rodrigues is expecting Real Madrid to submit an offer for Neymar in the coming weeks, adding: “We know Real Madrid will make an offer too.
“Neymar will choose the team he wants, it’s Neymar’s opinion that is important.”
The 21-year-old, whose current contract expires at the end of the next season, reportedly rejected a new contract offer from Santos last month.
Spurs to add ‘quality players’
Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas intends to use Gareth Bale to help attract players to White Hart Lane this summer, according to Sky Sports.
Bale, 23, has been on scintillating form for Spurs this season, having been named Barclays Premier League Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year.
The Wales international’s outrageous form has seen him mentioned in the same breathe of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
As a result, AVB feels that Bale, who continues to be linked with the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid, can bolster Spurs’ summer recruitment to White Hart Lane.
“I think the more strong your squad is, the better, and the fact that we have Gareth achieving those individual awards this season is obviously something that other players will recognise as important moving forward,” said AVB.
“This summer, we will be adding quality players, I think. We can’t compete at the level that others go for in terms of the big names that are around and the players that you expect to be moved for having done well during the season.
“We are in a different type of market and we have to scout properly to get good names from around the world and the Premier League.”
Bale has bagged a career-best 20 goals, and four assists, in 33 English Premier League matches for Spurs this term.
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