Brazilian star Neymar is set to become the most expensive player in world sport’s history following a report that the 25-year-old has agreed a five-year deal with French Lique one giant Paris Saint-Germain worth nearly €500m, according to Sky Sports.
Neymar decided to leave Barcelona following talks on holiday near Rio de Janeiro in early July, before he joined the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
He is expected to arrive in the French capital by Friday to complete his move.
The total value of the deal is worth nearly N211billion which includes wages, bonuses and a buyout clause of over N93billion (€222m). Neymar has been offered a basic salary of N12billion-a-year (€30m) after tax and N248.748.399-a-week.
Barcelona confirmed the buyout clause will have to be “deposited in its entirety”.
Sky Sports News has been told that a key meeting took place in Brazil earlier last month involving Neymar, his father and super-agent Pini Zahavi, who has brokered the deal.
Zahavi has known Neymar since the age of 17 and has become one of his closest advisors.
A source in Spain close to Neymar has told Sky Sports News: “Since he decided to leave, Neymar has had to deal with huge pressure to stay at Barcelona. His teammates wanted him to stay but his decision was made.”
The source added that Neymar had been “close” to joining Manchester United in last summer’s transfer market but chose PSG after a further season at Barcelona.
Neymar is expected to join five Brazilian international teammates at PSG, including Dani Alves and Thiago Silva.
The source said: “People will say this has been driven by money, but he wants to become the leader at the club. He wants to be independent, and wants to win the Ballon d’Or. He believes he can do that in Paris.”
La Liga president Javier Tebas has threatened to block the transfer but it’s understood PSG officials remain “very confident” there will be no issues with the buyout clause.
Events moved swiftly on Wednesday when Barcelona released a statement announcing that the 25-year-old had informed them of his intention to leave, and confirming the amount of his buy-out clause.
“The player Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and agent, has informed FC Barcelona this morning of his decision to leave the club in a meeting held at the club’s offices,” Barcelona said in a statement.
Neymar’s departure would end a four-year stay at the club, where he formed a formidable strike force with Messi and Luis Suarez.
Messi reacted to his team-mate’s imminent move by posting on his Instagram account: “It was a great pleasure to have shared all these years with you, my friend @naymarjr. I wish you much luck in this new stage of your life. Be seeing you.”
PSG has yet to confirm whether an agreement has been reached.
Anthony Nlebem
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