Neymar could have become a Real Madrid superstar long before his move to Barcelona, according to revelations from his former agent Wagner Ribeiro. The Brazilian forward was reportedly already close to an agreement with Los Blancos during his time at Santos, but the transfer ultimately fell through.
The revelation sheds new light on one of the most intriguing transfer stories of Neymar’s career and raises the question of what might have happened if the Brazilian had chosen Madrid instead of Barcelona.
Neymar and Real Madrid Had an Agreement
Neymar was one of the most sought-after young players in world football during his breakthrough years at Santos. Real Madrid quickly identified the Brazilian as a potential future superstar and worked extensively to bring him to Spain.
According to Ribeiro, negotiations with Madrid progressed to the point where the player’s representatives had reached an agreement with the Spanish giants regarding his potential move.
Contemporary reports from 2011 also claimed that Neymar had agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, including a long-term contract. The deal, however, was never completed because Santos and the player had not reached the final stage of the transfer process.
Why Neymar Did Not Join Real Madrid
Despite the advanced negotiations, Neymar ultimately decided to remain in Brazil.
The young forward was strongly attached to Santos and wanted to continue his development at the club before making the move to Europe. Reports from the time suggested that Madrid were prepared to wait, but Neymar’s desire to stay in Brazil eventually played a decisive role.
Former representatives have since explained that Neymar was not completely comfortable with leaving Santos at that stage of his career. His decision allowed him to continue playing regularly in Brazil and develop into one of the world’s biggest stars.
Barcelona Eventually Won the Race
Real Madrid were not the only European giant interested in Neymar. Barcelona also monitored the Brazilian closely and eventually won the race for his signature.
In 2013, Neymar completed his move from Santos to Barcelona, beginning a hugely successful chapter of his career. He went on to form the famous attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar, helping Barcelona win major domestic and European trophies.
For Madrid, the missed opportunity became one of the most notable examples of a superstar slipping through the club’s fingers. ESPN has previously documented how Madrid maintained a long-term interest in Neymar before Barcelona eventually secured his transfer.
Neymar’s Madrid Story Could Have Been Very Different
Neymar eventually became one of the defining players of the Barcelona era, but his career could have looked completely different had he accepted Real Madrid’s proposal.
The Brazilian already had a strong connection with the Spanish giants during his Santos years, and Madrid reportedly remained interested in him for years. At one point, Neymar even underwent a medical in Madrid, although the move still failed to materialize.
Instead, Barcelona became the club where Neymar established himself among the world’s elite.
One of Football’s Biggest What-Ifs
Neymar’s decision to join Barcelona rather than Real Madrid remains one of the great “what if?” stories in modern football.
Had the original agreement with Madrid been completed, Neymar could have become another Galáctico alongside some of the biggest stars in the club’s history. Instead, he chose Barcelona and went on to become one of the most important players of his generation.
The story is a reminder of just how close some of football’s biggest transfers can come to taking a completely different path.
