IN SPORT.ES
Six years ago Sandro Rosell beat Real Madrid - and Florentino Perez - to the signing of Neymar. Barça paid €57m for the Brazilian youngster from Santos (although, even to this day, no one knows the real cost of the transfer).
Alongside the arrival of Luis Suarez, it formed one of the most dangerous attacking tridents in football. They claimed the second 'treble' in the club's history. Now, after Neymar left to join PSG, it's Real Madrid and Barça fighting it out once again for the Brazilian star.
Florentino Perez wants to gain a measure of revenge for what happened in 2013 and he feels Neymar is the best possible substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo. Bartomeu wants to add Neymar so he can aid Messi's desire to win the Champions League again.
'Dirty work'
Barça have put in all the hard, dirty work to make a deal for Neymar viable. PSG are in no mood to help out Bartomeu and so far none of the offers have been high enough to convince the French club to sell. Perez is taking advantage of the good relationship he has with Al-Khelaifi to secure a deal for the Brazilian first.
That's how things stand: Neymar is closer to ending up at the Bernabeu than he is the Camp Nou. But the player, nor Bartomeu, have totally given up on a transfer happening. They hope the Brazilian's desire to join Barça is greater than his desire simply to leave. The club must do their part too.
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What's clear is that whoever signs Neymar - Barça or Real Madrid - it will greatly increase their hopes of winning the Champions League this season.