Neymar signs five-year deal to complete world record PSG move

[webfact]

Neymar signs five-year deal to complete world record PSG move

 

Football Soccer - Barcelona v Juventus - International Champions Cup - East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - July 22, 2017 - Barcelona's Neymar breaks past Juventus' Stefano Sturaro. REUTERS/Mike Segar

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Neymar completed his record-shattering transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain on Thursday, signing a five-year deal with the French club after they triggered his 222 million euros ($263 million) release clause.

 

The 25-year-old Brazil forward, who will be presented to fans on Saturday, is committed to PSG until June 2022, the club said in a statement. Media reports have said he could earn around 550,000 euros per week.

 

"Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realising our greatest dreams,” said PSG's Qatari President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

 

Both Barcelona and Spain's La Liga questioned whether the move complied with UEFA's financial regulations, with the club saying they would report the deal to European football's governing body.

 

The transfer doubles the previous world record fee paid when Paul Pogba moved last August from Juventus to Manchester United for a 105 million euros.

 

With the Spanish giants certain to be in the market for a replacement for the Brazilian forward - and with a hefty budget to invest - the Neymar move could set off a chain reaction of deals at top clubs across Europe.

 

Yet for PSG the signing is a huge coup, bringing them one of the most exciting talents in the world game.

 

Gifted with a superb touch and an impressive repertoire of tricks, Neymar was part of one of the most devastating strike trios the game has ever seen, playing at Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

 

In four years in Catalonia, he won the Champions League once, La Liga twice, and the King's Cup three times.

 

The focal point of the Brazil national team, who will be aiming for a record sixth World Cup title in Russia next year, Neymar's popularity soared after he captained his country to their first Olympic gold medal in Rio last year -- scoring a brilliant free kick and the deciding penalty in the final.

 

NEW HORIZONS

 

Neymar, who also has lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Gillette, Panasonic and Beats by Dre, said he was looking forward to delivering trophies for the French club.

 

"I am extremely happy to join Paris St Germain," he said in the club's statement.

 

"Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious. And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new team mates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.

 

"From today, I will do everything I can to help my new team mates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world," he said.

 

The excitement was certainly felt by PSG fans. Several hundred gathered outside the palatial Royal Monceau hotel in the capital, letting off flares and breaking into chants.

 

Barcelona said in a statement on their website (www.barcelona.com) that Neymar's legal representatives "visited in person the club's offices and made the payment of 222 million euros..."

 

The five-times European champions said they would pass on details of the operation to European soccer body UEFA "so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case."

 

Barcelona did not specify why they believed there may be a disciplinary issue relating to the deal. Javier Tebas, head of La Liga had earlier said that PSG were engaged in "financial doping" and the Spanish body would also complain to UEFA.

 

Tebas referred to PSG, who are owned by Qatari Sports Investments, as a "state backed club".

 

UEFA, whose financial fair play rules ban clubs from spending more than their generated revenue, declined to comment but a spokesman noted that international transfers are within the remit of global governing body FIFA.

 

A source from Spain's La Liga said earlier on Thursday that the league had rejected the payment of the clause to them after Neymar's lawyers visited its headquarters in Madrid to try to settle the transfer and pay the fee.

 

(Writing by Simon Evans; Additional reporting by Martyn Herman, Brian Homewood, Sarah White and Michael Gore; Editing by Toby Davis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-04

[BangkokNicky]

So, I was reading that Qatar has given Neymar 300m euro to be the poster boy for their world cup. Neymar has bought himself out or Barca for 199m euro with the rest of the 300 going on agents fees etc..... then PSG have signed him on a free, which keeps them clear of FFP...... 

 

Some would call it dodgy, but you could argue it's a legal and creative way around FIFA/UEFA's FFP rules..... 

 

What it says to me is that it's a major step forward towards a European Super League. So it doesn't matter that Neymar has gone to a weaker league, because for the time being it's all about the Champions League.... which I think will morph into the Super League. 

[goldenbrwn1]

6 hours ago, BangkokNicky said:

So, I was reading that Qatar has given Neymar 300m euro to be the poster boy for their world cup. Neymar has bought himself out or Barca for 199m euro with the rest of the 300 going on agents fees etc..... then PSG have signed him on a free, which keeps them clear of FFP...... 

 

Some would call it dodgy, but you could argue it's a legal and creative way around FIFA/UEFA's FFP rules..... 

 

What it says to me is that it's a major step forward towards a European Super League. So it doesn't matter that Neymar has gone to a weaker league, because for the time being it's all about the Champions League.... which I think will morph into the Super League. 

The EPL is worth far more than the Champions League in revenue ect. Will never happen. And Neymar....what is he doing!!  He's gone to a made up French team owned by a foreign country in probably the least competitive league in Europe or even the world.  The Brazilian manager summed it up quite well.....he said he was very happy with Neymar going to PSG and Ligue 1 as now he will be well rested for the World Cup.....   Not taking away the fact that this made up team are a very good side btw but they are just a CL side. All eggs of prestige in one basket.

[chickenrunCM]

8 hours ago, BangkokNicky said:

So, I was reading that Qatar has given Neymar 300m euro to be the poster boy for their world cup. Neymar has bought himself out or Barca for 199m euro with the rest of the 300 going on agents fees etc..... then PSG have signed him on a free, which keeps them clear of FFP...... 

 

Some would call it dodgy, but you could argue it's a legal and creative way around FIFA/UEFA's FFP rules..... 

 

What it says to me is that it's a major step forward towards a European Super League. So it doesn't matter that Neymar has gone to a weaker league, because for the time being it's all about the Champions League.... which I think will morph into the Super League. 

sorry but it not work like this, for 300 Million he would have to pay 160 million income tax in Spain as this is his recidence, so it´s more about 400 million before tax and as it is clear where the money comes from, FIFA and UEFA can never accept any doggy solution, everybody will look in this bussiness, like tax office, Fifa, Uefa, la liga, french league and every sports journalist, they will follow the money in every direction and find out where it´s coming from

[jaymbkk]

Cut the BS. PSG payed the full amount, nothing shady and in full compliance with the UEFA rules and the FFP.

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

[mrbojangles]

21 hours ago, chickenrunCM said:

sorry but it not work like this, for 300 Million he would have to pay 160 million income tax in Spain as this is his recidence, so it´s more about 400 million before tax and as it is clear where the money comes from, FIFA and UEFA can never accept any doggy solution, everybody will look in this bussiness, like tax office, Fifa, Uefa, la liga, french league and every sports journalist, they will follow the money in every direction and find out where it´s coming from

Yeah doesn't make sense. Why would Qatar who sponsor Barcelona, pay a Barcelona player to get out of his contract to go and play for a team who are sponsored by Emirates.

[janclaes47]

On 04/08/2017 at 7:03 AM, webfact said:

signing a five-year deal with the French club after they triggered his 222 million euros ($263 million) release clause.

 

So I guess ticket prices will have to increase again, as will do broadcasting rights and accordingly cable tv fees, and guess who is the dupe once again of this unlimited greed.

[StevieH]

3 hours ago, mrbojangles said:

Yeah doesn't make sense. Why would Qatar who sponsor Barcelona, pay a Barcelona player to get out of his contract to go and play for a team who are sponsored by Emirates.

 

barcelona's contract with qatar finished recently. they're now sponsored by japanese online retailer rakuten. but PSG are actually owned by qatar aren't they?

[mrbojangles]

17 hours ago, StevieH said:

 

barcelona's contract with qatar finished recently. they're now sponsored by japanese online retailer rakuten. but PSG are actually owned by qatar aren't they?

In that case, the plot thickens

[goldenbrwn1]

On 05/08/2017 at 11:25 AM, StevieH said:

 

barcelona's contract with qatar finished recently. they're now sponsored by japanese online retailer rakuten. but PSG are actually owned by qatar aren't they?

PSG is the only football club to actually be owned by a country. Neymar has really gone to PSG on a free transfer so now PSG do not come under scrutiny from the financial fair play rules. Neymar bought himself out of the contract with money payed to him by Qatar for the World Cup.  So in reality Pogba is still the biggest transfer in football history.    The real story of all this will eventually come out and I'm pretty sure it won't be smelling of roses.