Real Madrid to rival Barcelona for Neymar by offering Gareth Bale in sensational swap deal
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DNm5MepWR2PQsWrkcWC2PT.jpg)
Real Madrid could rival Barcelona for the signing of Neymar by offering Gareth Bale to PSG.
The Independent report that figures close to the Brazil international are trying to persuade Madrid to enter the race by including the out-of-favour Bale in a proposal to the French champions.
Neymar is desperate to leave the Parc des Princes this summer, with Barcelona heavily linked with the player they sold for £198m in 2017.
However, the Blaugrana's recent big-money capture of Antoine Griezmann has cast doubt on their ability to finance a deal for the most expensive player of all time.
Bale, meanwhile, remains unwanted by Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, who said on Sunday that "we hope he leaves soon".
The former Tottenham forward is not keen on a move to the Chinese Super League, and agent Jonathan Barnett has said that "there could be a surprise" when addressing his future.
READ MORE
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
How US soccer rescued Arsenal in the mid-80s – and changed English football
11 world-class players who nearly joined unfashionable Premier League clubs
Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack