The Brazilian star recently returned to the former club Santos, the team he left for Barcelona in 2013.
After 12 years away, Neymar made a glorious return to his boy's club, Santos.
The Brazilian star left for Barcelona in 2013 and became one of the world's best players. But in a recent interview, Neymar revealed that he almost ended up in Bayern Munich and played under Pep Guardiola.
Neymar recently said he was approached by Guardiola while playing in Brazil and was struck with a proposal. Guardiola, who recently left Barcelona, wanted Neymar to be accompanied by his next club, but Neymar was less than prepared for the offer.
Neymar explained: “I almost went to Bayern … because of Pep Guardiola. After I won the Puskás prize, my father kept calling me at 2 a.m. I answered, he said I had to open the door … I was in boxers. It was my father, Pep Guardiola and the translator! “
Neymar continued: 'Pep told me:' I want to sign you and take me to which club I go. I will make you the best player in the world '. He shows me a paper, opens his laptop, tells me where I would play … Pep also said: “If you don't score 60 goals in a season, I'll change my name.” “
At the time, Neymar was one of the most coveted players in world football and was tipped to be the heir of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, a balloon d'Or winner in anticipation. Neymar even said his dream was to play “for a big club like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea” after leaving Santos.
Guardiola was at that time without a club after some time -out after leaving Barcelona. Guardiola was the most popular management ownership in the world and he had not publicly unveiled his next step, but he let Neymar slide that he was going to Bayern Munich.
“I said … okay, but which team? Pep said: 'I can't tell you yet because it is not over yet. I convinced him and he said: “I draw with Bayern. I know it was a cold city, but I will take care of you. “”
In May 2013, Santos announced that they had received two concrete offers for their star player and Neymar soon announced that he was planning to sign for Barcelona. He joined a deal that was thought to be worth around € 88 million and won a historic Treble in 2014/15 and formed an iconic front three next to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
He will not regret his decision to move to Barcelona, instead of Bayern Munich. But now, more than a decade later, the thought of Neymar, who joins Pep Guardiola's Bayern, offers a fascinating insight into a real-life sliding doors.
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