Santos refute claims Manchester United made £38m deadline day bid for Neymar

Santos insists they did not reject a £38million Deadline Day approach for Brazilian superstar Neymar - because Manchester United did not make one.

It was reported that Sir Alex Ferguson attempted to shatter the club's transfer record with a late move for the 20-year-old forward.

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.

United missed on signing Neymar's London 2012 Olympics silver medalist team-mate Lucas Moura who opted to join big-spending French giants Paris St Germain earlier this summer.

And they'll have some waiting to do before they can attempt to prise Neymar away, according to Santos chiefs.

'I have no idea where that came from, but it's not true,' said Santos football director Felipe Faro, speaking to Globo Esporte.

Neymar's father, Neymar Santos, playfully added: 'Neymar was sold two years ago... but we're still here.'