adminhuge amount of compensation if he breaks the agreement.
But City director of football Txiki Begiristain and representatives of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez are understood to have made it clear they will cover the costs of any compensation and improve Neymar’s personal terms if he would consider a move to them.
Barcelona have become increasingly concerned about the possibility of Neymar breaking his agreement, aware that other clubs can legitimately buy out the deal.
Neymar, 21, would be a natural replacement for Carlos Tevez, who has one more year left on his City contract worth more than £200 000 a week
The Brazilian, who disappointed when he played against England at Wembley last month but is expected to be the star when Brazil host the World Cup next year, has been a phenomenon at Santos, Pele’s former club.
Begiristain, who was at Barcelona as sporting director when the club began scouting Neymar, flew to Brazil this year and he is understood to have made inquiries as to the availability of the player while there.
Meanwhile City assistant boss David Platt admitted the champions were not ‘at it’ after a damaging loss at 10-man Everton.
City suffered a potentially fatal blow to their hopes of retaining their Barclays Premier League title as they were beaten 2-0 by their bogey side at Goodison Park.
Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic struck as the Toffees responded to their own critics after their dismal FA Cup quarter-final loss to Wigan by beating City for a sixth time in eight meetings.
They had another goal from Kevin Mirallas harshly ruled out for offside and Marouane Fellaini was denied a penalty in the first half.
City could have had their own penalty with the score still 1-0 in the closing minutes but Everton held out despite playing the last half-hour with 10 men after Steven Pienaar was sent off.
Manager Roberto Mancini did not appear for post-match interviews, leaving first-team coach Platt to answer questions.
When asked why Mancini did not speak, Platt told Sky Sports: ‘He is a bit angry, as you can imagine.
“He is just taking stock of the situation and calming down. He doesn’t want to come out here and say anything that might get him in trouble.
When asked what Mancini might be angry about, Platt said: ‘Everything in general, our performance — we weren’t really at it throughout the game.
“We got outworked by Everton. When you do have moments when you can get back into it, it doesn’t go for you.’
Platt later attempted to clarify his remark about being ‘outworked’ when he spoke to the rest of the press.
He said: “If it has come across like that it certainly wasn’t meant.
“You know they are going to make you work. If you look at the stats —we have probably covered the same amount of distance, shown the same intensity.
City could have had a penalty when a Carlos Tevez shot struck Fellaini’s hand inside the box. Referee Lee Probert gave a free-kick on the edge of the area and Aleksandar Kolarov fired into the wall.
It was suggested the ball may have hit Osman’s hand before Fellaini’s, which might explain Probert’s decision, but Platt was unsure.
He said: ‘I didn’t see whether it brushed Osman’s hand but I don’t think that would have been given because it has not stopped the flight of the ball.
“I think it has been given for the Fellaini handball. Is it intentional? No, but having given it, it is two or three yards inside the box.
“It is a decision that has gone against us.” Platt intends to keep fighting even though the title now looks even more likely to be reclaimed by Manchester United.
He said: ‘We have an obligation to win football matches between now and the end of the season, regardless of whether there is a points advantage or it is mathematically impossible, which it isn’t at this moment.’ — Mailonline.
Online Reporter