Political motives lead Real Madrid to seal Neymar signing in secret

Attempting to separate politics from football is almost like trying to stop the colour blue from being synonymous with the sea or sky or even Ant being seen on TV screens without Dec.

It is as good as impossible.

Sepp Blatter has provided numerous examples of politics and football going hand in hand, most notably when ensuring that Qatar would be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Therefore, it should be no surprise that politics is also rife in club football.

Santos are the latest club to bring the two vehicles together through the sale of Neymar to Real Madrid.

Although there is nothing untoward in the two clubs agreeing a €60m deal for the Brazilian striker, the fact that the transfer will not be officially made public until December is slightly convenient.

Santos are desperate not to lose their prize asset and this is something that current president Luis Alvaro Ribiero knows only too well.

With the next club elections taking place in December, selling Neymar now will almost certainly bring his tenure to an end.

So in a bid to extend his stay, the deal is to be kept quiet for a few months, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.

Also revealed is that Neymar will sign for Real Madrid next summer after the Olympics and he will become the third highest earner at the club, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, but on par with Iker Casillas.

A member of the Real Madrid medical team has already flown to Santos to complete a precautionary medical and manager Jose Mourinho will finally get the striker he has been asking for almost since the first day he took over in the hotseat of the Spanish giants.

However, for the remainder of the current season, Mourinho will have to rely on Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain to fire the club to silverware.

Real Madrid’s odds are 13/8 to win La Liga and 9/2 to land the bigger priority of the Champions League.