Gabriele Marcotti: Barcelona can't offer anything more Neymar
The stunning claims from France indicate United were ready to pay the Brazilian’s £170million buy-out clause at the time.
However, Jose Mourinho failed to land the 25-year-old in his first transfer window at Old Trafford.
Manchester United went on to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly, as well as breaking the world-record transfer fee with an £89m move for Paul Pogba.
According to L’Equipe, a deal for Neymar collapsed at the last minute when he eventually decided against the move to stay at Barcelona.
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Neymar was close to joining Manchester United from Barcelona last summer
Neymar’s representatives had agreed terms with United
It is said Neymar’s representatives had agreed terms with United, but L'Equipe add the potential switch was never made public.
While Barcelona managed to keep hold of the forward a year ago, they now face the prospect of him leaving for France.
The Ligue 1 club are ready to pay his release clause with the Brazil international keen to join.
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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was close to securing a move for Neymar last year
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Having had to contend with living in Lionel Messi’s shadow at the Nou Camp, despite his own huge talent, Neymar is finally heading out of Barcelona.
United do not appear to have been in the running this summer for the Barca superstar, even though they could have offered him a similar platform to PSG.
The Red Devils have forked out elsewhere on £75m signing Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic (£40m) and Victor Lindelof (£30.7m).
Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic is still in Mourinho’s sight.
