MANCHESTER UNITED will press on with a £240MILLION pursuit of Brazilian
superstar Neymar — and want him to be the global face of the club.
United have to meet Barcelona’s phenomenal £130m buyout clause. Tax add-ons
would push the transfer fee up to a world-record £165m.
And Neymar would earn £75m over five years at Old Trafford — taking the total
cost of the deal up to an eye-watering £240m.
But United believe the signing will pay for itself if the Barca striker
becomes the face of the club and they get the marketing strategy right.
While Neymar, 23, is a major figure at the Nou Camp, he will never be the main
man as long as Lionel Messi is there.
At Old Trafford he would be the undisputed king, pulling in an astonishing
£300,000 a week.
There were reports in Brazil last night that United had made a £140m bid for
the striker, but there is no confirmation of that.
And there is a recognition at United that the move for Neymar could be a
long-term project.
There is a view in Spain that Neymar is using United’s interest to secure a
new lucrative contract at Barca.
Last night Nou Camp president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: “Neymar feels great
at Barca.
“We’ll have renewal talks later. We want him to stay for years and even to
retire here.”
However, Neymar is open to the idea of a possible move.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been to the Nou Camp three
times recently.
While Neymar’s agent Pini Zahavi was at Old Trafford for Saturday’s 0-0 draw
with Newcastle.
United boss Louis van Gaal has admitted only the world’s best striker will
improve his team.
United are still in for Southampton ace Sadio Mane and are hopeful of signing
the £20m-rated Senegal attacker before the transfer window shuts.