Vinicius Junior has revealed that he spoke with Neymar about Barcelona before heeding the advice of fellow Brazilians Marcelo and Casemiro to join Real Madrid. The highly-rated 17-year-old has a €45 million (£40m/$52m) deal in place to link up with the Blancos, with those at the Santiago Bernabeu having won the race for a much sought-after signature. It remains to be seen when he will make his way to Spain, with Madrid yet to make a decision on whether to extended a spell at Flamengo or welcome the youngster onto their books this summer. Whatever his immediate future holds, Vinicius remains convinced that he made the right choice in listening to illustrious countrymen on the books at Real. He told Marca: “Marcelo and Casemiro helped me a lot in the decision. My family too. They visited all the clubs and ended up opting for Real Madrid. “I had to think very fast and I think I made the right choice. At Madrid, there are Brazilians who will be able to help me on and off the pitch. “Also, playing with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos... I have no words to explain what that means to me. Being next to the best is something that I always dreamed of, that's why I chose Real Madrid.” Pressed on whether Neymar, who was on the books at Barcelona when a big-money deal was been discussed, had tried to tempt him to Camp Nou, Vinicius added: “Yes. He always called me, but I was thinking about what would be best for me and for my career. “I had to go to the club where I could evolve more and improve technically.” Those who talked him to Madrid have remained in constant contact since a deal was done, with proven performers in Spain keeping a close eye on the development of a future team-mate. “Casemiro always sends me messages to congratulate me and tell me that I'm on the right track,” said Vinicius. “He tells me to continue how I am, that when I arrive I will adapt quickly and I will give them plenty to celebrate." “And Marcelo always says that I have to maintain my positive football that I have and my ability. “I'm a big fan of him and I'd like to have a bit of his skill, because that way I'll become an excellent player.”

Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong is unable to rule out a summer move to Barcelona after being identified as a possible replacement for Andres Iniesta. Goal revealed recently that the 21-year-old has registered on the transfer radar at Camp Nou for some time. Initial contact has been made with Ajax, with tentative talks held before Barca discovered that Antoine Griezmann would be snubbing them to remain at Atletico Madrid. With that switch ruled out, the La Liga giants have money to invest in other areas – with De Jong considered to be a useful addition for the present and future. The Netherlands U21 international is aware of the rumours and concedes that something could be done, telling AT5: “Of course, you can never promise that [staying at Ajax] as a footballer. “There may be a club tomorrow that offers so much that you are away. But, as it stands, I play at Ajax. “First, I have to get fit. And just see if I can play football a bit, then we’ll see further.” Quizzed specifically on the links to Barcelona, De Jong added: “I do not really read the Spanish newspapers. “Right now it is not so serious for me that I have to keep myself busy with it. I leave that to my agent. “I do not know if he is working on it. Maybe, maybe not.” De Jong has made just 27 Eredivisie appearances for Ajax after stepping up from their youth side. He has recorded only one goal, but is considered to fit the ball player mould that Barcelona are looking for. Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan is another to have been linked with a switch to Catalunya to fill Iniesta’s boots, but the Germany international has sought to distance himself from such talk.

Ilkay Gundogan is “happy” at Manchester City and has no intention of pushing for a summer move to Barcelona, amid talk that the Liga giants want him to replace Andres Iniesta. Those at Camp Nou are in the market for another creative midfielder after seeing a club legend depart for J. League side Vissel Kobe. Attention has turned to Germany international Gundogan, with the 27-year-old having tasted title success in the Bundesliga and Premier League while earning 26 caps for his country. He does face fierce competition for places at the Etihad Stadium, with the promise of more to come as City chase down the likes of Jorginho, but he is a favoured option of Pep Guardiola. Gundogan made 46 appearances for City across all competitions last season and, as he remains tied to terms through to 2020, will only be on the move this summer if he is deemed surplus to requirements. He told Arab News on the transfer rumours: “I have plenty of time on my current contract, two years to go. “But it also depends on the club if they want me to stay. Everyone can see and feel I am really happy here. “With the way we play, with the people around me, in the city, in the community, I really enjoy it here and really enjoy my life. I’m happy. “It was great to win the Premier League title, but there are plenty of things still to achieve. “We are committed to this every year at City, not just the players, but the coaching staff, to try to win the biggest trophies. “That’s what we will be trying to do next season and the season after.” Gundogan joined City from Borussia Dortmund in a £20 million ($26m) deal back in the summer of 2016. Knee ligament damage brought his debut campaign to a premature close, but he returned from nine months on the sidelines in September 2017 to become a key figure in a record-breaking team which collected Premier League and Carabao Cup honours.

Antoine Griezmann made his mind up to snub Barcelona a month ago, claims Atletico Madrid and France team-mate Lucas Hernandez, with the striker opting to stay out of Lionel Messi’s shadow. Having been heavily linked with a move to Camp Nou for some time, the 27-year-old finally revealed the decision he had made on his future on the eve of World Cup duty. In a lavish video documentary which aired his Barca snub, Griezmann claimed there are “things to do with Atletico”. It appeared from the outside as though it had taken him some months to reach that conclusion, but Hernandez believes his fellow countryman was always staying in the Spanish capital. He told reporters: “I believe Griezmann made his choice a month ago. The video only came recently but that [situation] wasn't in his head. “He's only thinking about the World Cup and is 100 per cent focused on that.” Griezmann also stated that he wished to avoid being “one more” at Barcelona, with Hernandez agreeing that joining a star-studded squad in Catalunya would have been the wrong choice. He added: “I think like his wife said in an interview: ‘At Atletico, you can be a star. At Barcelona, you will only be a player’. She said what is most essential, that’s the truth. “Here, at Atletico, he can be the idol of everyone, of every fan. “If he would have gone to Barcelona, there are a lot of great players and the best player in the world as well. He would have been in the shadow of some great players like Messi, Iniesta or even Xavi before. “If he would have moved to Barcelona, it would have only been one more player in the team. “Here, at Atletico, he is the player, our best player, our leader. He will make the difference.” Griezmann is already up and running as a talismanic presence for France at World Cup 2018, with a controversial penalty converted in a 2-1 victory over Australia in their opening fixture. He was replaced by Olivier Giroud in that contest, having struggled to produce a spark outside of his spot kick, but has been assured by coach Didier Deschamps that his starting spot is not under threat.