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Real Madrid gain edge in race to land Neymar

By Ernesto Hernandez

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 14: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, Neymar Jr (R), of Paris Saint Germain competes for the ball with Isco Alarcon of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2017-18 Round of 16 (1st leg) match between Real Madrid vs Paris Saint Germain at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 14 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 14: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, Neymar Jr (R), of Paris Saint Germain competes for the ball with Isco Alarcon of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League 2017-18 Round of 16 (1st leg) match between Real Madrid vs Paris Saint Germain at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 14 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid reportedly move ahead of the pack in the chase to sign Neymar from PSG.

The race to sign Neymar is heating up with the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona going head-to-head to acquire the Brazilian. While the preference of the player is to return to Barcelona, it is their bitter rivals who sit in prime position to sign him away from PSG.

According to Diario AS, one of the leading contributors is the relationship between PSG and Barcelona. It is no secret that these two sides do not like one another. PSG went ahead and signed Neymar after being annoyed at the Catalans insistence on Marco Veratti. The relationship between the French side and Real Madrid, however, is less strenuous. Which is why PSG are more open to being flexible in the negotiations including being open to letting Neymar leave on loan with an option to sign him the following season.

Sport report that Real Madrid have issued a full-court press to snatch the Brazilian away from Barcelona,

"Florentino has offered Neymar €40m per season, which is actually more than the eye-watering wage he currently earns at PSG. If he accepts that offer it would make him the second highest-earning player in football, just behind Lionel Messi."

Sport also report that this push from Real Madrid intensified after Barcelona and PSG were making positive strides. A breakthrough had been made where PSG were close to agreeing to a loan deal and an obligation to buy. But early in the week, the club informed the Catalans that they had received a better offer from Madrid. Los Blancos are in a better position cash-wise to finance such an expensive deal. Plus, they would be willing to offer Luka Modric who, despite his age, looks a better addition than either Ivan Rakitic or Philippe Coutinho.

Barcelona still have hope and believe that Neymar’s desire to return for Barcelona will trump the offer by Madrid. However, that same desire may take a backseat to another desire which is that of leaving PSG. Neymar is desperate to leave and knows there are only a select number of clubs who could make that wish come true. If PSG value the offer made by Madrid more than that of Barcelona’s, he may not see another way out.

Barcelona have done their own campaign to get Neymar back during their US tour. Gerard Pique came out and said that Neymar needed to make his intentions known and that he would be welcomed back at the club. After their second game against Napoli, Carles Aleña said that the Brazilian should favor Barcelona over Madrid and that “it would hurt” if Neymar went to their bitter rival.

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Neymar will already miss PSG’s first game of the season and seems to have one foot out the door. As things stand, he is closer to wearing a los blancos colors rather than the blaugrana.

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