Soccer News

Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has claimed Ronaldo tried to lure Neymar to Real Madrid.

Former Real and Barcelona striker Ronaldo is now working for football agency 9ine, which he founded after retiring as a player in February.

The three-time FIFA Player of the Year has been accused by the Santos boss of trying to earn money by pushing a transfer through for Brazil prodigy Neymar.The striker, 19, penned new terms with Santos on November 9 tying him to the club until 2014, but Ribeiro claimed Ronaldo tried to change things prior to the deal by acting on behalf of La Liga outfit Real.”Ronaldo was the first to speak with Real Madrid and then after that people from the club arrived from Spain,” Ribeiro told Folha de Sao Paulo.”He came to me with an offer, but it was well below the buy-out clause (believed to be around 45 million euros).””He has stopped being a footballer and he quickly turned into a businessman. I think he wanted to earn money, it’s his right. I don’t want to earn money. He does.”Ribeiro said Santos’ aims are to ensure Neymar develops as a player first and foremost.”We do not act in the same area as the agents. Our job is to ensure Neymar enjoys a successful career,” he said.