Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 6y

Neymar to Real Madrid more likely than Barcelona return - Andres Iniesta

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has said it is more likely that Neymar will join Real Madrid than return to the Camp Nou.

Neymar, who left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record deal last summer, has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu or a switch to his old club.

Madrid president Florentino Perez is a long-term admirer of the Brazil international, and reports in Spanish capital have claimed the club could be ready to pay as much as €400 million for him.

Meanwhile, reports in the Catalan media claimed Neymar had contacted his former Barca teammates to "offer himself" to his old club.

Asked about the situation on "El Larguero" radio show, Iniesta said: "It is not that it surprises me or not. I am indifferent. I would not take that as a lack of respect, it is not something I am thinking about.

"I would just think that Madrid are signing one of the best players in the world. But we still have a squad and players that are better than the others.

"Usually when you leave somewhere, it is difficult to return. I would be more surprised if he came back [than to see him at Madrid]. But we will see what happens in future."

However, former Madrid and Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos told the same show that "we will see what happens."

He said: "There is nothing impossible for Madrid, and for Florentino. The president is the one who signs the players, and I will let him do the talking."

Perez was questioned about his interest in Neymar at a charity event organised by ex-Madrid player Esteban Granero on Wednesday.

"I knew you were going to ask me that," he told Onda Cero. "I'll think about it and answer later.

"You know me, and I am not going to talk about that. I have just come here to attend this nice party."

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