Neymar deal 'beyond rationality', says Arsene Wenger as Arsenal boss claims state ownership and £198m PSG transfer undermine Financial Fair Play

Arsene Wenger has claimed the proposed £198m transfer of Brazilian superstar Neymar from Barcelona to PSG is 'beyond rationality'. 

The Arsenal manager was asked about the record-breaking deal on Thursday as he spoke ahead of Sunday's Community Shield meeting with Chelsea at Wembley.


Wenger said: 'For me, it is the consequence of the ownerships that have completely changed the whole landscape of football in the last 15 years. 

Neymar is close to finalising a £198 move from Barcelona to PSG
Arsene Wenger has described Neymar's proposed transfer as 'beyond rationality'

Arsene Wenger (right) has described Neymar's £198m move to PSG as 'beyond rationality'

The deal is being funded by PSG CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi and his Qatar Sports Investments firm

The deal is being funded by PSG CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi and his Qatar Sports Investments firm

'Once a country owns a club, everything is possible.

'It becomes very difficult to respect the financial fair play. Now you can have different ways or different interests which allow a club to represent a country and attract such a big player to come to them.

'That's why I always supported football living with its own resources.

'The numbers are now comparable to the NBA basketball. They are out of context with society. It is beyond rationality.

'It also looks like the inflation is accelerating. We crossed the 8100m line last year and only one year later we are crossing the 8200m line.

'When you think that Trevor Francis was the first £1million player (in 1979) and that looked unreasonable, that shows you how much distance and how far we have come, how big football has become.'

Neymar has signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year contract from Barcelona

Neymar has signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year contract from Barcelona

Neymar will wear the No 10 shirt at PSG after completing his £198m transfer 

Neymar will wear the No 10 shirt at PSG after completing his £198m transfer 

Arsenal held an opening training session at the Emirates stadium on Thursday.

Striker Alexis Sanchez trained after recovering from flu, but Mesut Ozil worked only lightly and away from the main group after complaining of a sore ankle.

Sanchez has not signed a new contract at Arsenal and is the subject of interest from Manchester City. But Wenger claimed he will not be allowed to leave.

'My decision is clear,' he said. 'He will stay. He will respect that. I don't want to say too much.

'We live in a world of transparency and we have to respect that as much as we can.

'We know as well that we have a duty to inform people, but to talk about some things is not information any more - it is suicide.'

Meanwhile, Gunners boss Wenger is adamant  Alexis Sanchez will not be sold this summer

Meanwhile, Gunners boss Wenger is adamant Alexis Sanchez will not be sold this summer

Wenger will start the season under pressure after missing out on the top four in the Premier League last season.

But Arsenal did beat champions Chelsea in the FA Cup final to set up Sunday's season opener.

The Arsenal boss said: 'Chelsea again will challenge for the title. I would love to have been in the Champions League but the Premier League has taken over from it in terms of (public) interest now.

The Chilean could be in the Arsenal team to take on Chelsea in the Community Shield

The Chilean could be in the Arsenal team to take on Chelsea in the Community Shield