Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Neymar to Real Madrid: Mariano gives transfer his backing
NEYMAR would “fit in really well” at Real Madrid, reckons former Bernabeu star Mariano.
Neymar is linked with a move to Real Madrid
Real Madrid are said to be interested in signing Neymar this summer.
There are claims Los Blancos president Florentino Perez has been in touch with Neymar’s father via an intermediary, agent Wagner Ribeiro.
Neymar left Barcelona for PSG in a £200million only last summer.
But talk of a deal back to Spain has not gone away and Mariano, who left Real for Lyon at the start of the season, has backed Neymar to succeed at the Bernabeu.
Asked by Spanish newspaper AS for his thoughts on Neymar to Real, Mariano said: “He could do (well).
Neymar has torn apart French defences for PSG this season
Mariano has backed Neymar to thrive at Real Madrid
He’d fit in really well there
“I’ve already said that he’s a brilliant player, and he’d fit in really well there.”
The 24-year-old added: “He’s a brilliant player.
“It’s true that they’re paying him a lot of money, but he’s showing that’s he’s a big star.”
Neymar will come up against Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 later this month.
The Brazilian has already scored 25 goals for PSG this season, although his relationship with Edinson Cavani is said to have hit rock bottom.
Cavani, PSG’s usual penalty taker, has had to succeed the ball to Neymar recently and the latter was booed in the 8-0 win over Dijon last month.
Asked about the Champions League double-header with Real, Mariano said: “I think Madrid are the favourites because they’re the current champions.
“Also, they’ll be really up for it given everything that’s happening at the moment.”