Big News: Barcelona Almost Sold Neymar To Chelsea, But Antonio Conte Blocked The Deal
Mar 26, 2017 at 1:34 PM
There is a growing majority who feel Neymar is a Ballon d’Or winner in waiting.
While Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to break records left, right and center, they are likely to extend their dominance of the highest individual honours in the game.
But of the trailing pack, Neymar is arguably leading the way should either Ronaldo or Messi start losing their touch anytime soon.
Therefore it’s understandable why there would be a queue of top clubs around the world interested in signing the Brazilian from his current club Barcelona.
But signing a future a Ballon d’Or winner from a club he is happy at isn’t going to come cheap.
And yet an Italian newspaper believes that one team have actually been able to reach a verbal agreement with Barcelona for the services of their talented forward.
Tuttosport, as per The Sun, have reported that current Premier League table-toppers Chelsea have had the opportunity to sign Neymar for a fee thought to be in the region of £155 million – no, we aren’t joking.
The Blues owner Roman Abramovich has somehow been able to convince the Catalan giants to let go of one of their most prized assets.
And yet the deal appears to have already collapsed before it even got properly started.
Why? Antonio Conte.
Yep, remarkably the Chelsea manager is believed to have rejected the chance to sign the 25-year-old.
Apparently, Conte would prefer to trim his squad before making any new major additions and also has doubts whether Neymar would fit into his style of play.
It’s true that a disciplinarian such as Conte does require a certain type of player to forge a winning team but you would think he might make an exception for someone as good as Neymar.
A front three of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Neymar would have surely ripped up defenses throughout the Premier League and Europe next season if Conte had granted his approval.
Chelsea fans will just be hoping they aren’t made to rue turning down one of biggest stars in the world right now later down the line.