Neymar, in his media interview in ‘Podpah’ in which he told why he signed for Barcelona despite having “a blank check” of Real Madrid, revealed the curious attempt by Pep Guardiola to disrupt his landing in ‘Can Barça’ in order to take it to Bayern Munich.
The current Santos player said that in 2012 he received the visit of Pep Guardiola at 2 in the morning to convince him to sign for the Bayern Munich the following summer.
“After winning the Puskas award (award for the best goal of the season) I almost go to Bayern … for Pep Guardiola,” Neymar said.
The coach, who had left Barcelona and was about to take over the German club, appeared in the room of the then player of Santos, accompanied by Neymar’s father and a translator.
“In underwear and shirt, I open the door, there are my father and Guardiola. I returned, I put on my shorts. My father, Guardiola and a translator. Guardiola sits in my room: ‘I want to take you to the team I am going (Bayern de Munich)’. At that time I was without a club.
Neymar explains that “Guardiola shows me a role, opens its laptop and says ‘you’re going to play here, you’re going to do this, if you don’t mark 60 goals this year you change the name'”.
“I said … okay, but what team? Pep told me: ‘I still can’t tell you because it has not yet closed.’ But I convinced him, and he said: ‘I signed with Bayern. I know it was a cold city but I will take care of you.’ I finally decided to sign for Barcelona,” said the Brazilian.