Neymar turned down Real Madrid after trial with Castilla, former team-mate reveals

Neymar spent two or three weeks training with Real Madrid Castilla and was wanted by the Spanish club before deciding to return to Brazil, according to former Castilla player Alex Fernandez.

The revelation was made by Fernandez, who now plays for UAE club Dibba Al Hisn, during an appearance on the YouTube podcast El After de Post United.

Fernandez was discussing players he had faced at Castilla who later became stars for major rival clubs when he disclosed that Neymar had been assessed by Real Madrid during his youth.

“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. Neymar came to have trials with us. Pablo Sarabia, Dani Carvajal and others were there. He stayed here for two or three weeks,” Fernandez said.

Neymar would later become one of the most recognisable players in world football, enjoying spells with Santos, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain, but Fernandez stressed that the teenager had not yet developed into the global star he is known as today.

“Of course, he wasn’t the Neymar we know today, the global star, but you could see glimpses of his talent,” he added.

According to Fernandez, Neymar was initially expected to travel with the Castilla squad to an international tournament. However, the plan changed unexpectedly after the Brazilian had spent several weeks with the group.

“He was going to come with us to an international tournament. Then, after three weeks, they told us: ‘No, no, he has decided to stay in Brazil.’ And, of course, at that age you don’t ask for explanations about anything,” Fernandez said.

The former Castilla player indicated that the decision did not come from Real Madrid, who were keen to retain Neymar, but from the player and those around him.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but he said it was too early. I remember that Real Madrid wanted him, but the boy decided to return to Brazil,” Fernandez said.

Neymar remained in his home country before establishing himself at Santos and eventually moving to Barcelona, where he formed a celebrated attacking partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. His later career also took him to Paris St-Germain.

The account offers a glimpse of how close Real Madrid may have come to signing Neymar before his senior career began, although Fernandez described the player at that time as a promising youngster rather than the finished article.

Fernandez also recalled the strength of the Castilla generation in which he featured. Alongside Sarabia and Carvajal, that group included Alvaro Morata and produced several players who went on to play at the highest level.

Despite Neymar’s obvious ability, Fernandez said Sarabia stood out above the rest during that period.

“The best player of that generation was Pablo Sarabia. He was the one who made the difference in everything, even when Neymar came,” he said.