Neymar’s father wanted superstar to stay at Barcelona before bonus details were leaked

After making public the contract demands that Lionel Messi made to Barcelona and revealing the details of Gerard Pique’s mega contract, El Mundo has now leaked yet another story in relation to Barcelona and their transfer handling.

This time, the centre of the story is a certain Neymar Jr, with the report revealing leaked emails that shed light on his shock transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2017.

Having signed for Barcelona in 2013 from Santos FC, Neymar went on to achieve great success at the club. However, he would leave the Blaugrana four years later for a world-record sum of €222 million as PSG triggered his release clause.

Now, the leaks from El Mundo that contain emails from the club’s former director, Raul Sanllehi, have revealed that the Brazilian superstar’s father, Neymar Sr, tried on several occasions to convince the attacker to stay put at Barcelona.

Sanllehi was put in charge by Barça to convince Neymar to stay put at the club. And the then-director was convinced that the Brazilian’s father was on their side, until the signing bonus details were leaked.

“I have been with this man for hours and hours and I think I know him well enough to know when he is bluffing and when he is telling the truth. In this case I am absolutely convinced, he has shown me, that he was on our side,” he said about Neymar Sr.

“The problem is all in Neymar’s head. The kid is going through things. He has many personal problems, and he’s confused and vulnerable. He thinks that leaving Barcelona would also leave his problems, when it’s the opposite,” one of the leaked emails from Sanllehi read.

“I have spoken directly with him, repeatedly, I have made him cry more than once, and he has admitted to me on more than one occasion that he was lost,” it continued.

However, things suddenly changed after the details of Neymar’s massive €64 million signing bonus were leaked to the media. Following that, his father also pushed for an exit along with the footballer, eventually culminating in the world-record transfer.

“I don’t trust you, you have lied to me. First Rosell abandoned me, then Barto not reaching a plea deal, and now the leak of the loyalty bonus. If I don’t receive it today, I can legally release the contract, and you won’t get €222 million,” Neymar Sr wrote to Barcelona after the details of the bonuses were leaked.

With Neymar Sr demanding the signing bonus and Barcelona refusing to pay that, Neymar ended up leaving the club.