Rosell: "Neymar wanted to play with Messi"

Posted Wednesday, October 09, 2013 by Marca.com

Rosell:

Sandro Rosell has given some insight into the signing of Neymar to 'El Larguero' radio programme on the Spanish station Cadena Ser: "I spoke with his father when we met in Miami and we closed the deal there. There were four parties that owned his rights as part of the agreement and we had to agree with all of those, but in the end we closed the deal for €57.5 million".

The Barcelona President went on to reveal, "the key was that the player wanted to come to Barcelona. It was not about knowing how to negotiate; he wanted to be here next to Messi and the rest of the team. Everything was based on that despite offers he had from Man City, Chelsea, Bayern and Real Madrid".

"I am still in touch with Guardiola; we speak via text message", was Rosell's answer when asked about his relationship with the now coach of Bayern Munich.

Rosell also spoke about his relationship with Johan Cruyff and the growing coolness that he says may come from "my time as vice president when he advised us to buy the three A's, Aimar, Albelda and Ayala, and we instead bought in Ronaldinho, Deco, Edmilson and Márquez. That is where I think it all began".

The falling out has now reached a point whereby the Dutchman has refused to return to the Nou Camp while Rosell is still President, something that does not seem to bother Rosell too much: "If he does not come we'll have a place more, if I have to argue with people to defend Barça then that is what I'll do," he said.