Real Madrid may well have beaten Barcelona to talented Santos youngster Rodrygo, but club president Jose Carlos Peres is trying to squeeze every last drop of money out of the deal it seems.
It appeared a €45m deal had been agreed between the clubs, until Peres’ latest remarks about Real’s pursuit of the 17-year-old phenom who has taken Brazil by storm with stunning displays for the Brazilian giants.
Santos offered Rodrygo a new contract with the aim of increasing his release clause from €50m to €100m and Peres insists the club won’t accept anything less than the minimum €50m for the teenager.
“There is no agreement for Rodrygo with Real Madrid,” the club president is quoted as saying by Spanish outlet Marca.
“Paying 40m euros won’t do anything. That is the line we have drawn. His clause is 50m euros.
“We have several proposals. Every day some outlet claims the deal is done; [with] Paris Saint-Germain, Madrid, Barcelona…If someone appears and pays the clause, we will be obliged to sell him.”
Neymar also came through the ranks at Santos.
The demands included paying in ‘cash’, in one lump sum, mirroring the agreement Los Blancos secured for another Brazilian starlet in Vinicius Junior.
It is worth pointing out that the Catalan side were never willing to match the sums demanded by Santos and the player, unlike Real.
Rodrygo has been one of the stars of the Brazilian league this season, scoring five goals in nine appearances.
His dribbling skills and quick feet have seen him compared with compatriot Neymar who also played for Santos.