"Ronaldo tried to tempt Neymar"

Posted Saturday, November 26, 2011 by ESPN

Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has accused former Real Madrid forward Ronaldo of trying to tempt Neymar into moving to the Santiago Bernabeu.

After months of frenzied speculation that Neymar was set to join Madrid, Santos completed a spectacular U-turn as they persuaded their prized jewel to pledge his future to the club until 2014.

Santos honcho Luis Alvaro has now claimed that former Brazilian striker Ronaldo tried to engineer Neymar's move on Madrid's behalf.

"Ronaldo was the first to speak with Real Madrid and then after that people from the club arrived from Spain," Ribeiro told Folha de Sao Paulo.

"He came to me with an offer, but it was well below the buy-out clause [believed to be around €45 million]."

Ronaldo, who is now plying his trade off the pitch with football agency 9ine which he founded after hanging up his boots, has been accused by Luis Alvaro of trying to pocket a fee out of selling Neymar.

"He has stopped being a footballer and he quickly turned into a businessman," the Santos chief added.

"I think he wanted to earn money, it's his right. I don't want to earn money. He does."

"We do not act in the same area as the agents. Our job is to ensure Neymar enjoys a successful career."

Neymar's contract extension means that the mercurial forward will stay in his native Brazil through to the 2014 World Cup which would be held on their home soil.