The La Liga efforts to put the spanner in the $263m world record transfer of Neymar to Paris St-Germain has come to nothing, as the Brazilian finally moved from Spain to France in a 5 years deal.
The lawyers of the French club- Juan de Dios Crespo and Marcos Motta- went to the league’s headquarters to deposit €222m (£198m) and clear the way for Neymar to join the French club.
Barcelona has accepted the money even though the La Liga President, Javier Tebas, had threatened to declined the payment. “We can confirm that the player’s lawyers came to the La Liga offices this morning to deposit the clause and that it has been rejected,” a statement from the league said. “That’s all the information we are giving out at this moment.”
Tebas has argued that the deal would infringe financial fair play and wants to protect Spain’s leading clubs. The Brazilian forward to earn £775,477-a-week in five-year deal, the highest today in world football, consigning Teves’ £600,000 in China to the second spot. Neymar ‘s wages in a year will equate 45m euros (£40.3m) which easily triple his current wages of £11.3m in Barcelona. This means PSG’s total outlay across the initial five-year deal will come to £400m.
“Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings,” Neymar said in comments released by PSG. “I played four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teammates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.”
“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Neymar said. “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 teammates, is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want.”
It’s a mission that is clearly shared by the club’s top management.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “He will bring a very positive energy to this club”. “Neymar Jr is today one of the very best players in world football. His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player.” “In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football. Today, with the arrival of Neymar Jr, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realizing our greatest dreams.”
Neymar is currently the only footballer to earn more from his off-field endorsements than his playing contract at Barcelona. Neymar’s sponsors include global brands such as Nike, Gillette, Panasonic and Beats by Dre and bring the 25-year-old in $22m (£16.6m) on top of his $15m (£11.3m) salary.
The payment of Neymar’s buy-out clause of €222m ended the two weeks saga of uncertainty surrounding his future even though the La Liga is threatening to call on UEFA to investigate PSG’s violation of the Financial Fair Play rules.
PSG is expected to unveil Neymar in the city of light, Paris today and he might make his debut for the club on Saturday against newly promoted Amiens at the Parc des Princes as the 2017/18 French League commences.
