Barcelona beat Real Madrid’s €100 million offer for Neymar and created the iconic MSN attack

The transfer of Neymar Jr. from Santos to European football in May 2013 became one of the most notable chapters in the football market. The Brazilian striker’s decision to join Barcelona not only thwarted the plans of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who had presented a superior financial proposal, but also began the formation of one of the most dominant attacking trios in the history of the sport.

The negotiation was surrounded by expectations and twists and turns, representing a strategic dispute between the two Spanish giants. By opting for the Catalan sports project over a more lucrative contract in the capital, Neymar redefined the balance of forces in La Liga and set the stage for an era of memorable achievements in Camp Nou.

The result of this choice culminated in the creation of the legendary trio “MSN”, formed by Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar himself. Juntos, they enchanted the world with high-performance football, winning the main titles on the world stage and setting records that solidified their names in the history of Barcelona and global football.

Details of the rejected Madrid proposal

Behind the scenes, the war to hire Neymar involved astronomical figures. The Real Madrid, chaired by

The Madrid package included significant benefits for the athlete’s family and the status of the team’s main star, succeeding Cristiano Ronaldo in the long term. However, the project presented was not enough to convince the player, who had other plans for his career at Europa.

Choosing the Barcelona sports project

Neymar’s decision was guided mainly by sporting factors. The opportunity to act alongside his idol, Lionel Messi, was one of the most important elements. The Brazilian striker saw the partnership with the Argentine as a chance to grow and develop in a competitive and winning environment.

Furthermore, Barcelona’s playing philosophy, based on ball possession, quick passing and collective attacking, aligned perfectly with Neymar’s style. Ele believed that the Catalan club’s tactical system would be the ideal scenario to adapt its dribbling and speed football to the European elite.

Although the transfer was officially announced for €57.1 million, subsequent investigations revealed that the total costs of the transaction were much higher. Acordos parallels with companies linked to the family of Neymar increased the value to approximately €86 million, a fact that generated serious legal implications for the club in the following years.

Real Madrid’s response with Gareth Bale

The loss of Neymar to its biggest rival was felt as a significant defeat by the Real Madrid board. Florentino Pérez needed to give an immediate and forceful response in the market to calm the fans and demonstrate the club’s strength. The reaction came a few months later, with the signing of Welshman Gareth Bale, who stood out at Tottenham Hotspur. The transaction, closed for €101 million, set a new world record at the time and was a clear demonstration of financial power. The objective was clear: to overshadow the arrival of Neymar to Barcelona and assemble an equally powerful attacking trio. With the arrival of Bale, Real Madrid formed the famous “BBC” trio, composed of Benzema, Bale and Neymar’s decision, therefore, not only strengthened Barcelona, but also intensified competition and triggered a new era of heavy investment and memorable duels in the classics.

The formation of the most lethal attack in history

The arrival of Neymar was just the first piece of the puzzle. The MSN trio was effectively consolidated in the 2014-2015 season, when Barcelona announced the signing of Uruguayan center forward Luis Suárez, who was coming off a spectacular season for Liverpool.

The harmony between the three South American attackers was immediate and surprising. The friendship and respect they developed off the field were reflected in a perfect harmony within the four lines, resulting in supportive, creative and lethal football.

In their first full season playing together, Messi, Suárez and

This combination brought together the genius and game vision of Messi, the precision and killer instinct of Suárez, and the speed, dribbling and boldness of

Numbers and achievements of the South American trio

During the three seasons they played together, from 2014 to 2017, the MSN trio’s numbers were impressive and helped define one of Barcelona’s most successful eras. In total, the trio scored 364 goals in 450 games played, an average that highlights the consistency and firepower of the attack.

In addition to the large number of goals, the trio also stood out for their altruism, accumulating a significant number of assists between them. Neymar, during his time at the club, contributed with 105 goals and 76 assists in 186 matches, consolidating himself as a fundamental piece in the team’s offensive system.

The peak of the triple crown season

The highest point of the MSN era occurred in the 2014-2015 season, under the command of coach Luis Enrique. Naquele year, Barcelona achieved the coveted triple crown, winning Campeonato Espanhol, Copa from Rei and Liga from UEFA’s Campeões, a rare feat in world football.

Judicial controversies and the end of an era

Despite his enormous sporting success, Neymar’s transfer was marked by controversy off the field. Investigations into the real values ​​of the negotiation resulted in a tax fraud lawsuit at Espanha, known as “Case Neymar”, which shook the club’s structure.

The institutional crisis culminated in the resignation of then-president