La Liga: Barcelona star Neymar signs PSG contract for record-breaking €222 million, claim reports

Barcelona striker Neymar’s move to the Parc des Princes is all but done, reports say. According to French newspaper Le Parisien, the ambitious Qatari owners of Paris-Saint Germain have activated the record-shattering €222 million buyout clause and have offered a four-year contract which was agreed upon by the Brazilian forward. The transfer talk was doing the rounds since quite sometime and Neymar and his father, who is also his agent, were in close contact with the French club. [caption id=“attachment_2900010” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Barcelona’s Neymar. AFP[/caption] With PSG ready to shell out a record fee, the report adds that members of the Barcelona hierarchy are left with no choice but to move ahead with the transfer, which will be the most expensive transfer in the history of the sport. The 25-year-old attacker’s basic salary would amount to nearly €30 million per year, which is around three times more than what he currently earns at the Nou Camp. The French newspaper also added that Neymar and his father will also profit from PSG owners Oryx Qatar Sports Investments’ other commercial ventures in Paris. Neymar who is currently with Barcelona in the United States for their pre-season has informed new manager Ernesto Valverde and his teammates about his departure, says the report. Sky Sports, meanwhile, suggested that the Barca’s superstar had decided to leave the club after becoming increasingly frustrated “playing second fiddle” to Lionel Messi. The transfer rumour gained speed after the star himself posted his photograph on Instagram, where he is seen lying on the ground, with the photo accompanied by a pensive emoji. The message was ’loved’ by PSG players – winger Angel Di Maria, goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and midfielder Marco Verratti on the social media platform – throwing the rumours into a frenzy. The post garnered more than 1.5 million ’likes’ within 12 hours of being shared online.However, according to the Daily Mail, the Barcelona manager brushed aside the speculations saying, “Neymar is with us and we absolutely want him to stay here, the rest is just rumours.”

Valverde added that Neymar was a player the club would love to have, not just for his football skills, but what he brought to the team in the locker room.