Madrid hold inside track to Neymar

Posted Sunday, October 02, 2011 by ESPN

Real Madrid appear to have an ace up their sleeve as they look to win the race to sign Santos forward Neymar.

Neymar has been deeply impressed by Madrid's La Liga rivals Barcelona playing style and he is thought to be favouring a move to the Catalans once he decides to leave Brazil.

However, former Madrid and Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos has been trying to convince the teenage star to snub the Nou Camp for the Bernabeu.

"I told Neymar to stop messing around and join Real Madrid when I spoke to him last week," Carlos told Radio Marca.

"I said he ought to sign for them now. However, he is like a superstar in Brazil and people are stopping him from leaving.

"Neymar is like the Cristiano Ronaldo of Santos - a leading player, but I hope he signs for Madrid."

Neymar, an up and coming Brazil starlet, and Carlos, a legend of the national team, are known to have a close relationship with the pair in contact with each other on a weekly basis.

It was just over two months ago when the 38-year-old caused a stir by revealing his plans to bring Neymar to Anzhi Makhachkala by way of his close connections with the club's billionaire owner.

Carlos now plays in Russia for Anzhi.

Publicly, the move never seemed to gain momentum and it is now clear Carlos hopes to push Neymar in the direction of the Spanish capital.

Carlos has just been appointed as Anzhi's player-coach following the sacking of previous manager Gadzhi Gadzhiev.

Anzhi lie seventh in the Russian Premier League with five games remaining.