Santos accept Barca, Madrid bids for Neymar

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Brazilian club Santos have confirmed they have accepted two offers, believed to be from Barcelona and Real Madrid, for their 21-year-old star Neymar.

The Brazilian international has long been a target for Barca, who reportedly had a bid turned down earlier in the week, but Real are believed to have now entered the race as president Florentino Perez plans a clear-out of the current squad after a disappointing season.

Neymar is out of contract next season, meaning he could have left for free this time next year, but any transfer does not just depend on Barca and Madrid reaching an agreement with Santos and the player as Santos only own 55 per cent of his economic rights.

Therefore, the Spanish giants will also have to negotiate a deal with investment groups DIS, which owns 40 per cent of his rights, and Teisa, which holds the remaining five per cent.

Despite his tender age, Neymar has been a first-team regular for Santos for the past four years, scoring 156 goals and providing 77 assists in 256 matches.

He guided them to their first Copa Libertadores triumph since the days when Pele represented the club in the sixties in 2011, and has already established himself at international level, scoring 20 times in 32 appearances with Brazil.