Neymar’s controversial move from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) remains one of football’s most talked-about transfers. Recently, Neymar’s former agent, Wagner Ribeiro, shed new light on the staggering financial details and motivations behind this landmark deal.
The Unforgettable €220 Million Cheque: Neymar’s Agent Recalls PSG’s Determination
Wagner Ribeiro, who represented Neymar during his move to PSG, recounted the momentous occasion when the French club activated the Brazilian superstar’s €220 million release clause at Barcelona. In an interview, Ribeiro vividly described receiving the cheque that broke transfer records and changed the landscape of football finance.
Key highlights from Ribeiro’s account include:
- Record-Breaking Sum: Ribeiro confirmed the €220 million cheque, stating, “It was an unforgettable cheque… €220m!” He even admitted to taking a photograph of this historic financial instrument.
- Doubled Wages: Beyond the massive transfer fee, PSG significantly boosted Neymar’s earnings. His salary nearly doubled, jumping from €25 million per year at Barcelona to a staggering €40 million annually in Paris.
- Champions League Obsession: Ribeiro revealed PSG’s singular focus was winning the coveted UEFA Champions League title. The club’s hierarchy, according to Ribeiro, were prepared to invest whatever it took to assemble a squad capable of European glory.
- Unlimited Resources: He emphasized the seemingly limitless financial backing of PSG’s Qatari ownership. “[PSG president] Nasser [Al-Khelaifi] spent without counting because he absolutely wanted the title (Champions League). With them, there are no limits: when they want something, they get it,” Ribeiro stated.
- Arabic Script: The sheer scale of the transfer was underscored by the details of the cheque itself, which originated from a Qatari bank and was inscribed in Arabic, a language Ribeiro admitted he couldn’t fully decipher, yet “I will never forget the figure.”
Neymar’s time at PSG spanned from 2017 to 2023, after which he joined Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. During his tenure in Paris, he solidified his status as a key player, making 173 appearances and scoring an impressive 118 goals.
Lionel Messi’s Perspective: Neymar’s Regret and Barcelona Yearning
Adding another layer to Neymar’s PSG narrative, Lionel Messi, Neymar’s former teammate and close friend at Barcelona, shared his insights back in 2020. Messi suggested that Neymar harbored regrets about his move to Paris and expressed a strong desire to return to the Catalan club.
Messi’s comments from a 2020 interview highlight:
- Regret Over Departure: Messi stated that Neymar was “desperate to return and has always appeared to regret his decision.” He believed Neymar quickly felt remorseful about leaving Barcelona.
- Barcelona Affinity: According to Messi, Neymar “was always fine at Barca, performing at a very high level,” indicating a sense of belonging and success that might have been missing in Paris.
- Attempted Return: Messi revealed Neymar’s efforts to engineer a comeback, saying, “He did a lot to come back and that would be the first step in making it happen.” This suggests Neymar actively tried to re-join Barcelona.
- Team’s Initial Opposition: Messi also mentioned that within the Barcelona dressing room, there was initial resistance to Neymar’s departure. “It bothered me at the time [when Neymar left] and we tried to convince him not to do it,” Messi admitted, underscoring the player’s value and the team’s desire to keep him.
- Exceptional Talent: Messi acknowledged Neymar’s exceptional footballing qualities, describing him as “one of the best players in the world” and “a different type of player who is difficult to stop one-on-one and score goals.”
Before his PSG stint, Neymar enjoyed a highly successful period at Barcelona, playing 186 games and scoring 105 goals. In stark contrast, his appearances for his boyhood club Santos were limited to only 7 matches despite being with them for a significant period earlier in his career.
The contrasting accounts from Ribeiro and Messi offer a fascinating glimpse into the financial power and personal emotions that defined Neymar’s high-profile transfer to PSG. While money and ambition propelled the move, a sense of longing for his former club and teammates apparently lingered for the Brazilian superstar.
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