Did Manchester United make a £38m bid to land Neymar?

Santos have denied reports that they ever rejected a £38 million Deadline Day approach for Brazilian superstar Neymar – because Manchester United did not make one. But the papers in U.K say otherwise. The club record bid failed when the Santos ace, 20, said he wanted to stay put until after his country had hosted the 2014 World Cup.

United turned to Neymar after losing out to Paris St Germain in the chase for another Brazilian, Lucas Moura. They had offered £32m for the Sao Paulo 19-year-old but the French club landed him for £38m.

Ferguson reportedly turned to Neymar, who has hit 113 goals in 190 games for Santos but the bold approach failed.

Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea have all been linked with the Samba sensation but Neymar is understood to be keen to stay in his homeland until after the 2014 World Cup, which is being staged in Brazil.

But this could be also be a publicity stunt by the Glazers to create a buzz around the club and increase their stock market value. It would have been nothing but a miracle to see Neymar at Old Trafford as United already have a plethora of strikers and spending such a huge amount would have been nothing but folly.