Real Madrid Transfer News: Neymar Bids Revealed in Barcelona Court Investigation

Spanish stardom could have gone a lot differently for Brazil superstar Neymar, after it was revealed in a Barcelona court that Real Madrid made bids for his signature on two occasions across a two-year span.

Spanish radio programme Vozpopuli is cited by newspaper Sport, reporting Los Merengues offered €45 million for the former Santos striker in 2011 before making a €36 million bid in 2013, when he made the move to Catalonia.

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According to the report, Jose de la Mata is  the head of the Central Court No. 5 of the Audiencia Nacional, and asked a host of European clubs to disclose the amounts offered for Neymar as part of an investigation into his Barcelona transfer.

Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are mentioned as the other clubs being asked to disclose specific information of the amounts they offered for the attacker, who moved to Barca two years ago for a reported fee of €57 million.

The purpose of these requests is to discover if Neymar received any superior offers to that of Barcelona, which would suggest the reigning European champions actually paid more than the mentioned figure.

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Neymar has made a dazzling start to life in Europe and boasts a record of 54 goals in 92 appearances for the Blaugrana, with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu stating he hopes the player will remain for years to come, per Sport:

"In a few months, we will talk about his renewal. He has to continue [at Barca] not just for three years, but for five or 10 more years. We don't want Ney to go, he is young and we want him to retire here."

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BBC News reported in May that Barcelona would stand trial for allegedly misleading tax authorities in relation to Neymar's €57 million move, of which €45 million went to the player's parents.

On-pitch results certainly suggest the allegations against him aren't affecting Neymar, who spoke to Brazilian outlet Globo TV (via Sport), proclaiming that "this while issue doesn't affect me on the pitch, in fact, when I go to play nothing affects me at all."

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The case comes as another star member of the Barca attack, Lionel Messi, prepares to stand trial later this year regarding an alleged £3 million tax fraud, according to Rob Draper of the Daily Mail.

Real Madrid are cited as the first club to respond in reporting their Neymar offers, with the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City yet to reveal their attempts to land Barca's man marvel.