• Premier League

Santos deny Utd made last-gasp £38m bid for Neymar

ESPN staff
September 5, 2012
Manchester United did not bid for Neymar, according to Santos © Getty Images
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Santos have denied claims that Manchester United launched an audacious £38 million deadline day bid for Brazil international forward Neymar.

United, the Premier League runners-up, did not sign anyone on the final day of the summer transfer window last Friday, after bringing in a number of players earlier in the summer. However, reports on Wednesday claimed that was not for the want of trying.

The Sun claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson made a sizeable late bid for Neymar in an attempt to lure him to England, but the youngster's club have now dismissed that report.

"I have no idea where that [story] came from, but it's not true," Santos' football director Felipe Faro told Globo Esporte.

Neymar's future has long been the subject of widespread speculation, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid prematurely reported to have agreed a transfer deal at points over the last few seasons.

Neymar's father, Neymar Santos, showed a certain weariness with all the speculation, noting about the latest rumours: "Neymar was sold two years ago but we are still here."

He added: "He is ready to play football. We talked a lot and the fields are the same worldwide. Of course he needs to develop. We made the choice that he will mature in Brazil.

"He will inevitably go to Europe someday, but for now he is happy in Brazil."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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