Barcelona 'promised Neymar they will buy him in 2020' in a desperate last-ditch move to stop him joining Real Madrid last summer

Barcelona promised Neymar last year that they would re-sign him either last summer or in the coming transfer window - in order to stop the Brazilian from signing for Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

The Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil forward came very close last summer to rejoining his former club, whom he left for the French capital for a world-record fee of £198million back in 2017.

But Mundo Deportivo claim the 28-year-old was also closing in on signing for Barcelona's arch rivals Real Madrid last summer before the Catalan club intervened and made their last-minute pledge to bring him back to the Camp Nou. 

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 Barcelona made a last-ditch attempt to stop Neymar signing for Real Madrid last summer

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Neymar left Barcelona for Ligue 1 side Paris-Saint Germain for a world-record fee in 2017

The report claims Madrid used their good relationship with the Ligue 1 side to negotiate a deal for the Brazilian last summer, and while Neymar's preference was to return to Barcelona, his ultimate priority was to leave the Parc des Princes.

But in a bid to stop him moving to the Spanish capital, Barcelona reportedly said: 'Either you come this year or you come next year, that's for sure'.

However, Barcelona ultimately failed to convince PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi to sell last summer despite entering into advanced negotiations with Neymar's entourage and even holding discussions regarding money.

The news comes a few days after Sportsmail revealed Barcelona are looking to sign both Neymar - who the report claims is 'fed up' at PSG - and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez this summer. 

However, the Catalan club acknowledge that they will have to sell before they buy, with Phillipe Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele all potentially in the firing line.  

Barcelona cannot afford both Lautaro and Neymar, and the €700m (£613m) makeover of the Nou Camp, and Messi’s new contract without a massive recouping of money spent on their big recent signings.

Coutinho, Dembele and Griezmann could all depart but they would all leave at a loss and Barcelona would have to cash-in on other assets to raise the money to sign both Neymar and Lautaro.

Neymar appears content in PSG training as he pulls off trick

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