Jose mourinho calls Barcelona star Neymar about a summer move to Manchester United

Jose Mourinho has reportedly called Neymar over a move to Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho has been in contact with Brazilian star Neymar, as he attempts to persuade the Barcelona forward to leave Camp Nou and join Manchester United this summer.

United are in the market for another big-money, big-name commercial star and Antoine Griezmann has been their No.1 target.

But suggestions from Atletico Madrid and Griezmann in recent weeks have led to uncertainty over the deal, with the Frenchman only keen on the move if United are in the Champions League next season.

Now reports in Spain now suggest that Mourinho has personally been in touch with Neymar, the 25-year-old who has 50 goals in 75 games for his country, in a bid to bring a long-time United target finally to Old Trafford.

Mourinho is also a long-time admirer of Neymar also, having attempted to take him to Real Madrid when in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Like Griezmann however, United will certainly need to be back among the European elite to stand any chance of landing him.

According to Sport, Mourinho has made regular calls to the Brazilian to invite him to leave Barcelona and join United, explaining how he sees him fitting in at Old Trafford and what he believes he could do for Neymar’s career.

The ex-Santos star has long been touted as a future Ballon d’Or winner, the heir to the throne of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, after two breathtaking seasons at Camp Nou, scoring 70 goals in 100 games between 2014 and 2016 as he, Messi and Luis Suarez swept all before them, this season has been more difficult.

Despite protracted contract negotiations finally leading to the signing of a new deal - taking his release clause to £180million - legal proceedings against him and his father, relating to his arrival at Barca in 2013, continue. Barca are to stand trial on corruption charges after losing a final appeal.

Neymar's release clause will rise next summer, and again in 2019. As such, United know that their best chance of landing him is this summer, given the price and off-field issues.

Executive vice-president Ed Woodward will hand Mourinho the necessary funds as he looks to haul the club back to the pinnacle of the English game.

Mourinho knows he must improve his United attack in the summer given the club’s over-reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While the Swede is the club’s top scorer with 15 league goals, Juan Mata is next best on six.

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