Real Madrid legend Vicente Del Bosque has launched a scathing attack on the club's rumoured transfer target Neymar, claiming that the Paris Saint-Germain attacker is a "cheat" and "not a good example".
Los Blancos have been linked with a move for Neymar on and off since his Santos days, but the Brazilian opted to join Barcelona ahead of the capital outfit before moving to PSG in a world-record deal in 2017.
The 28-year-old has been tipped to return to Spain with either Madrid or Barca for much of his PSG career, but Del Bosque - a former long-serving player and manager at the Bernabeu - has warned the 13-time European champions against the signing despite regarding him as one of the world's best players.
"It is the clubs that must decide who to sign and who not to sign," Del Bosque told Mundo Deportivo.
"You should not pay attention to what the players say, for that there are sports directors and technical secretaries. It is very difficult for a footballer to speak ill of another footballer who has been his teammate. I don't remember almost anyone who has.
"[Neymar] is a difficult boy. For me he is not a good example, and for the record, for me he is great as a player. If you ask me to tell you the top five in the world, he is safely on my list, but on the pitch he tries to cheat, he simulates a lot. And also, how did he leave Barcelona?"
Neymar has scored 47 goals and created 26 more in just 52 Ligue 1 games for PSG, but has been dogged by injuries and rumours of unhappiness during his time in the French capital.
Barney Corkhill
