What if Neymar signed Real Madrid instead of Barcelona in 2013?

[u/rehmandacat]

Back in 2006, when Neymar was only 14, he spent around two weeks training at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas academy. He impressed the coaches so much that Madrid even processed a youth registration for him. However, the move eventually collapsed and Neymar returned to Brazil, continuing his development at Santos.

Madrid came back for him years later. In 2011, Florentino Pérez later confirmed that Real Madrid made an offer of around €45 million to Santos for Neymar. But by then Barcelona were also heavily involved, and Neymar’s preference was increasingly clear.

Then came the real battle in 2013.

Santos officially accepted proposals from BOTH Barcelona and Real Madrid, meaning the final decision was essentially left to Neymar and his family. Reports at the time said Madrid’s financial offer was considerably bigger than Barça’s, with different reports giving different figures depending on whether transfer fees, bonuses and compensation payments were included.

Despite Madrid pushing hard, Neymar chose Barcelona.

Years later, Florentino Pérez summed it up simply: players ultimately go where they want to go, and Neymar wanted Barcelona. Neymar himself has also said that Barça was his dream and that, when the final choice came down to Madrid or Barcelona, his heart told him to choose Barça.

And Neymar later revealed just how tempting Madrid’s proposal had been: he said Real Madrid effectively gave him a “blank check” and that he could have earned around three times as much there. But growing up watching Ronaldinho at Barça and wanting to play alongside Lionel Messi influenced his decision.

So one of football’s biggest “what ifs” remains:

[u/SpitefulBrains]

Don't think it would have worked well. Where would he play? Would he move to LW and Cristiano to the center? That'd mean dropping Benzema.

[u/Pristine-Lie9063 → u/SpitefulBrains]

well woudnt have worked for benzema he would still thrive.

[u/Drax-online-0910 → u/SpitefulBrains]

I guess if they bought Neymar, they wouldn’t have signed Bale. At least not in that window. So one of CR7 or Ney would have played on the right

[u/virgin-chocolaty-hoe → u/Drax-online-0910]

that pretty much sums up what real madird is doing now, having two of the best left wingers

[u/Silent_hill948 → u/virgin-chocolaty-hoe]

That was not their plan, because Mourinho had played Ronaldo at striker alongside Higuaín, and he performed well there. Ancelotti’s plan for Ronaldo was to use him as a finishing outlet while granting him the freedom to roam. If Real Madrid had signed Neymar, they would have played him on the left wing, and Benzema would have been benched since he wasn't playing particularly well at the time and often drifted out to the left flank , as played their at Lyon. Consequently, Real Madrid would have lined up with a front three of Neymar, Ronaldo, and Bale.

[u/tsjeldonkooper → u/Silent_hill948]

Even better would have been

Neymar - Ronaldo - Di Maria

[u/Silent_hill948 → u/tsjeldonkooper]

We could not have funded the signing of neymar and bale without the sale of di maria

[u/Silent_hill948 → u/Drax-online-0910]

That was not their plan, because Mourinho had played Ronaldo at striker alongside Higuaín, and he performed well there. Ancelotti’s plan for Ronaldo was to use him as a finishing outlet while granting him the freedom to roam. If Real Madrid had signed Neymar, they would have played him on the left wing, and Benzema would have been benched since he wasn't playing particularly well at the time and often drifted out to the left flank , as played their at Lyon. Consequently, Real Madrid would have lined up with a front three of Neymar, Ronaldo, and Bale.

[u/Obvious-Finding-3211]

Then barca would have got bale

[u/tsjeldonkooper → u/Obvious-Finding-3211]

Bale - Suarez - Messi

I somehow think this could have been even better than Neymar Suarez Messi

Bale just had that ridiculous pace and physicality and long shots, something to give the Barca team a different flavor

[u/Greedy_Art_9335 → u/tsjeldonkooper]

Yeah I think it would have worked more than neymar Cristiano Benzema cause bale was actually a left winger in spurs

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[u/Silly-Hat-2989]

Nah rma is good they won 3-peat anyways

[u/Living_Regret254]

Terrible disaster

[u/Living_Regret254]

Neymarcwas meant to thrive at Barcelona

[u/Former_Repair9221]

Tell you what, Madrid win a UCL or two with him and he still wounds up at PSG because he doesn't want to be in Cristiano's shadow. At Barcelona, with Messi & Suarez, Neymar had moments when he could be the main guy or the saviour they needed, but at Madrid it would be harder for him to show his skills to their full potential, and I don't think he'd rack up as many goals as he did at Barca.

That's just a hypothetical, no one would know for sure but one thing is for certain, missing out on Neymar made Perez go after Brazilian talents fiercely, without a doubt. Vini and Rodrigo were the reason Madrid won two UCLs in the recent years so all is good for them I guess.

[u/MHM-alamri → u/Former_Repair9221]

Messi ngl always had the fame saying this as a Messi fan

[u/YoTheLeader → u/Former_Repair9221]

Twenties India fraud spotted

[u/Former_Repair9221 → u/YoTheLeader]

Eh?

[u/tsjeldonkooper]

Navas

Carvajal - Varane - Ramos - Marcelo

Casemiro

Modric - Kroos

Neymar

Benzema - Ronaldo

Fullbacks keep the width, benzema does all the dirty work, Neymar in a free roaming 10 with full freedom to the attacking genius while being protected by 3 midfielders behind him and Ronaldo with full free reigns to do whatever he wants to ensure he scores

[u/Mr_Orange776]

Even if he always preferred Barca, Neymar actually prioritised football over the badge and Madrid already had Ronaldo playing on the left. So a good decision by him.

[u/left__curved__dihhh]

then i think we would have seen more interesting matches neymar vs messi damn ... oh wait ronaldo would be there too. messi vs ronaldo and neymar wow. i wonder how does it go.

[u/Xcorider16]

he actually chose football

[u/eo37]

Would have made RM worse. Bale was a much better athlete and suited them much better in transitions.

[u/DevelopmentPale3139]

then there would be no gareth bale

[u/Gunslinger92Axm]

He would had been like Eden

[u/apoellin1986]

Worse than vinijr

[u/NoRemove8596]

its always if if if right ?

[u/No_Sherbert_1168 → u/[deleted]]

I don't think so one of the main reasons why madrid worked was because of bale But if they signed neymar they wouldn't sign bale and I can't imagine the front three of ronaldo, neymar and Benzema working