Neymar to PSG transfer updates: Five-year deal agreed, Neymar talks up challenge
NEYMAR is poised to become the world’s best-paid and most expensive footballer when he joins Paris Saint-Germain - Express Sport brings you all the latest on the deal.
NEYMAR TO PSG LIVE TRANSFER UPDATES: All the latest as Neymar closes in on stunning move from Barcelona to PSG…
Five-year deal signed
21.00: "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.
"Paris Saint-Germain’s ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings. I played 4 seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge.
"From today, I will do everything I can to help my new teamates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world."
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Neymar has agreed a five-year deal with PSG
PSG troll Barcelona
19:18: Paris Saint Germain have trolled Barcelona on Twitter in the most savage way.
With Neymar on his way to Paris, the Ligue 1 side have decided to use Marco Verratti to celebrate.
PSG tweeted a picture of the Italian, who's been linked with Barcelona, posing with a thumbs up and the caption: "Hope you're having a great day!"
Why did Neymar not join Man Utd?
18:58: Neymar was on Manchester United’s radar and a transfer deal was on the cards.
It didn’t go through - but why? Express Sport look at the reasons why a deal didn’t happen.
18:15: Barcelona fans are burning shirts with Neymar’s name on the back after his £200million move - the latest exchange rate figure - was confirmed.
The club announced today have accepted a payment of 222 million euros from Neymar's legal representatives "with regards to the unilateral termination of the contract that united both parties".
And supporters reacted by posting pics of burning Neymar shirts all over Twitter.
Barcelona confirm deal
18.00: "On Thursday afternoon Neymar Jr's legal representatives visited in person the club's offices and made the payment of 222million euros in the player's name with regards to the unilateral termination of the contract that united both parties.
"As such, the club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above operation so that they can determine the disciplinary responsibilities that may arise from this case."
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AFP
Neymar transfer news: Neymar arrives in Porto (left) as journalist gather outside La Liga offices
Release clause paid
17.45: Neymar's lawyer Juan de Dios Crespo have visited Barcelona to pay the winger's £199million release clause, completing his move to PSG.
Crespo went to the headquarters of the LFP in Madrid this morning to pay the termination clause but was turned away.
He was instead told to pay the fee to Barca and arrived at their offices this afternoon to deliver the payment.
Crespo was accompanied by other lawyers and has now successfully paid the fee to Barca's general director Oscar Grau, completing Neymar's move to PSG.
French League hits out at La Liga
15:42: Neymar's proposed world-record move to Paris St Germain has been held up as La Liga officials turned away the delegation sent to meet his eye-watering buy-out clause.
But France's league body, the Ligue de Football Professionnel, responded with incredulity and told La Liga it "demands they abide by the rules of FIFA and its responsibilities".
A statement added: "The LFP is astonished and does not understand the refusal of LaLiga to simply accept payment of the release clause of the player Neymar.
"The LFP supports Paris St Germain and looks forward to the arrival of Neymar in Ligue 1.
"The legal services of the LFP are in support and available to Paris St Germain so that the contract of Neymar can be approved as soon as possible."
Neymar signs for minnows
15:13: Neymar has signed for PSG… no, wait, North Ferriby United.
They tweeted today: “WELCOME @neymarjr. We are delighted to announce that we've pipped @PSG_inside to the post! In other news, season passes are now £2,845,212”
La Liga have no say
13:05: La Liga have no power to block Neymar's move to PSG, Express Sport understands.
La Liga have received the £199m transfer funds from PSG but are refusing to forward it on to Barcelona.
Both Barca and the league claim they will appeal to UEFA over the transfer.
But Express Sport understands La Liga cannot scupper the move.
The best the league can do is hold up the deal while lawyers scour over the paperwork, looking for errors.
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Neymar Transfer News: LaLiga President Javier Tebas is powerless to stop Neymar from leaving
Life after Neymar
12:25: While Neymar's impending move to PSG rumbles on, Barcelona are already preparing for life after the Brazilian and have lined up several replaceements.
Head of their transfer target list is Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho, although the Reds value the 25-year-old at more than £100million.
With the 'Little Magician' most likely to fill Neymar's shoes at the Nou Camp, Express Sport has predicted how Barca could line up next season – it's still pretty frightening...
The taxman’s happy about it
11:50: The French taxman is delighted about the prospect of Neymar joining Paris St-Germain, the minister in charge of France's public accounts said.
The striker is expected to join the French club on a wage of around £515,000 a-week after a record-breaking £199million deal from Spanish giants Barcelona.
Le Figaro newspaper took a stab at estimating the possible tax and social security payments Neymar's salary could net the state, coming up with a figure of £33.5m a-year.
"The minister of public accounts is delighted by the extra tax income Neymar will pay in France if he joins a French club," the minister in question, Gerald Darmanin, told France Inter radio station.
"It's better that this footballer pays his tax here instead of elsewhere."
BREAKING: Neymar deal off?!
11:11: La Liga have REFUSED to accept PSG’s attempt to pay Neymar’s £199m release clause at Barcelona.
About five lawyers arrived at La Liga HQ near Madrid airport this morning.
But Sky Sports say they left after 15 minutes with no agreement reached.
Yesterday La Liga insisted they would not accept the payment from PSG to trigger Neymar’s release clause.
A spokesman for the office of La Liga president Javier Tebas said: "We will not accept the money for the liberation clause, the reason is that we have doubts that this money is in accordance with UEFA Financial Fair Play rules."
Coutinho replacement
09:35: Barcelona want to sign Philippe Coutinho by MONDAY and are ready to pay over £100m to land him.
Barca are under huge pressure to bounce back from Neymar’s shock move to PSG by bringing in a high-profile signing.
And Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo say Barca want to sign Coutinho from Liverpool by Monday when they will unveil their new squad to fans.
Ernesto Valverde’s side face Brazilian club Chapecoense on Monday evening at the Nou Camp, the club who tragically lost almost all its players and staff in a plane crash last year.
And Barca want to have Coutinho in Catalonia for the Joan Gamper Trophy, an annual friendly they hold before the start of the season.
REUTERS
Transfer News: Neymar has played his last game for Barcelona
No Dybala deal
08:33: Barcelona will struggle to sign Paulo Dybala as a replacement for Neymar.
Dybala is one of the names being linked with a move to the Nou Camp after Neymar completes his move to PSG.
However, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport claim Juventus are determined to keep hold of their star striker.
Dybala was a key player in Juve's sixth straight title win last season, while he also helped them reach the Champions League final.
Juve will not negotiate a deal for Dybala, the report claims.
West Ham’s Neymar regret
07:43: Apparently Neymar nearly joined West Ham…
The story goes West Ham had a £12m bid for Neymar rejected back in 2010, before his Barcelona days.
The Brazilian played for Santos back then and was already making noises as the next big thing.
Chelsea were also keen but the Hammers made their move by testing the water with a formal offer but Santos rejected it pointing to his £28.4m release clause.
Speaking at the time, club director Pedro Luiz Nunes said: "We received an offer from West Ham for Neymar, worth €15m [around £12m].
"Our position is clear, we do not open negotiations. These athletes only leave the club by paying the release clause."
Neymar to Man Utd next?
07:22: Here’s an intriguing proposition…
Spanish website Don Balon reckon Neymar could spend two or three years at PSG before leaving them for one of the biggest clubs in Europe.
By then Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will be in the twilight stages of their career and Neymar would have a serious chance of landing the Ballon d’Or.
Don Balon claim he could then join Manchester United, Juventus or sensationally even Real Madrid.
How about that then!
Neymar breakdown
06:55: Neymar is set to become the best-paid player in world footballer after being offered £650,000-a-week at Paris Saint-Germain.
PSG will pay his £199m release clause at Barcelona, dwarfing the current record transfer which stands at the £89m Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba last summer.
Next level stuff.
Neymar in Portugal
06:20: Neymar landed in Portugal yesterday to undergo a medical ahead of his world-record transfer.
The Brazilian superstar was pictured landing at the Francisco Sa Carneiro airport on the outskirts of Porto as he made a stop-over from Barcelona on a private jet.
Neymar underwent a medical in the presence of PSG’s Portuguese sporting director Antero Henrique.
ICYMI Neymar is joining PSG
06:00: We’re joking, unless you were actually living under a rock yesterday you know all about Neymar’s £199m move to PSG - where he will earn an eye-watering £650,000-a-week.
But what about Neymar the man?
Just how did Neymar da Silva Santos Junior go from kicking a ball around barefoot on the mean streets of Brazil to completing the biggest transfer deal in history.
