Neymar adviser meets Florentino Perez and describes him as 'idol and friend'

Wagner Ribeiro has raised eyebrows by posting a photo of himself with the Real Madrid president, describing him as "my idol, my friend".

Amid frenzied speculation over the signings that could arrive at a Real Madrid this summer as Los Blancos prepare for a likely overhaul of their first-team squad, Wagner Ribeiro, an agent whose clients include Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil's Neymar, has been photographed at a meeting with Bernabéu president Florentino Pérez.

Previously involved in negotiating mooted Neymar move to Madrid

Ribeiro, who was involved in negotiating Neymar's potential transfer to Madrid before the 27-year-old finally joined Barcelona in 2013, took to social media on Saturday to share the image, accompanying it with a message in which he expressed his "admiration for this gentleman, my idol, my friend, my PRESI".

A figure who previously helped to broker Madrid's deal to sign Robinho in 2005 and also had a hand in Vinicius' arrival at the LaLiga club last summer, Ribeiro's presence at the offices of Pérez's construction company, ACS, has raised eyebrows, particularly as it comes shortly after Neymar spoke publicly of his desire to play with Eden Hazard - a star who looks to be closing in on an end-of-season move to the LaLiga giants.

"I wanted him to go to Madrid - I've always said that"

Back in 2017, Ribeiro told the Brazilian media outlet UOL that he had hoped Neymar would opt for the Bernabéu over the Camp Nou. "I took offers from Chelsea and Real Madrid to [Neymar's then club] Santos," he said. "Barcelona's went straight to his father.

"I wanted him to go to Madrid - I've always said that. In financial terms, it was a better offer for Santos. It was better for the player too. But he decided to go to Barcelona, because he'd set his heart on that."