Neymar has joined Paris Saint Germain in a word record £198 million move.

This astronomical fee has obliterated the current highest fee, which was Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United of £89 million, by over £100 million.

The Brazilian has left the Nou Camp after four years , where he scored 110 goals and grabbed 69 assists.

It’s reported that he will be receiving a weekly wage of near to £600,000.

There are a few oddities about this transfer in my view:

1. Leaving Barcelona alone: 

The fact the Brazilian international is fleeing one of the greatest teams you can ever play for, to join PSG, by no means a poor side, but neither a side of the same class and heritage as the Catalan outfit is puzzling.  Gary Linekar recently tweeted about the record move and summed it up perfectly ” oh Neymar, any move from Barcelona is a step in the wrong direction”.

Neymar is leaving behind Messi and Suarez to team up with Edison Cavani and Lucas Moura- in anyone’s eyes; this is a major downgrade. At a time where he is at the peak of his powers, it begs the question of why you would risk it all and move to a league of a lower quality and into the unknown?

2. Trophies: 

Having won eight trophies in his four years at Barca, it’s evident that his time has been greatly successful. If it’s trophies he is leaving for, it remains a mystery as to why the French side would better his chances of this,given the fact in the past five seasons, Barca have won:  La Liga three times, three Copa del Reyes, two Spanish Supercups, one UEFA Supercup,  a FIFA Club World Cup and a Champions League for good measure.

Ligue 1 is not fiercely competitive, therefore PSG are usually favourites for the league, but can Neymar really win the Champions League at the Parc de Princes?

3. MSN : 

Neymar was a prominent figure of the deadly ‘MSN’ trident, of Messi, Suarez and Neymar.

A front three that terrorised defences in their four year history.

His move poses questions as to whether NCL ( Neymar, Cavani, Lucas) will be as successful; with the answer to that being pretty straight forward. Why would you sacrifice that connection you had created over four years for something that does not even compare?

Neymar is surrounding himself with weaker players, which is likely to make life more difficult for the Brazilian. Combined, the attacking trident netted 250 times in 299 games in all competitions, as well as collecting 116 assists amongst them. Neymar contributed 59 goals and 30 assists in his 97 games played.

4. Shining star: 

It’s alleged that one of the main reasons for the switch to Les Parisians is to enable the 25 year old to escape from Messi’s shadow.

The Argentine of course, is Barcelona’s all time greatest player and many put forward the case that he’s the best we’ve ever seen. I think it’s fair to say this took its toll on Neymar, a player who has adored being the player whose name is herrolded in the terraces.

At previous club Santos, he was the star figure, at an early age he was catching all the headlines, which saw him make the switch to Catalonia aged 21.

To begin with, these were his idols that he was playing with; Neymar described in a video he made talking about leaving the Nou Camp. But as time progressed, it is quite feasible that Neymar became tiresome of the great Lionel robbing him of all his glory; be it through individual awards, or even through the fans affection for the forward.

It’s reported that the mesmerising 6-1 victory over PSG, ironically, was the game where Neymar threw the towel in. He put in a man of the match display, scoring two and setting up the historic wining goal for Sergi Roberto, to send Barca through to the quarter finals of last seasons Champions league – but, it was Messi who grabbed the ‘hero’ status for the remarkable turnaround- despite doing less.

Neymar has also been the figurehead for the Brazil national team since he announced his name on the big stage. The 2014 World Cup in his country was seen as the chance for the youngster to bring home international glory- he could not carry the weight of a country’s expectations on his broad shoulders however; as Brazil were sent packing; courtesy of a 7-1 hammering by Germany in the semi finals.

So, It’s interesting that he wants to again be the centre of attention, having struggled to transform Brazil. Perhaps he wants to prove people wrong and show he is capable of leading the way.

5. Ballon D’or :

Neymar himself, has made his desire to win the Ballon D’or no secret to the world- it has proved quite a challenging task however. This is because he has been up against two of the best footballers of all time for the last 4 years, two players who show no signs of slowing down anytime soon and ending their inhuman goal scoring talents.

It seems highly unlikely that anyone else will get their hands on Europe’s top prize whilst Ronaldo and Messi are still playing.

The Brazilian has seen PSG as an escape route, presenting him with the chance to elevate his game to the next level. Playing alongside Messi and Suarez has been brilliant for his development, but he now wants to grab the limelight and become the ‘Greatest’.

It seems that the only way he thinks this is possible is to play in a team where he can again be the key man and carry the team; allowing him to bag all the goals and assists.

But, how many players have we seen win the Ballon D’or that have been playing in the French league? No matter what he achieves there, this move has seriously deprived his chances of this illustrious trophy; simply due to the quality of the league and what can be achieved there.

6. Money : 

The ludicrous sums of money that are involved in the transfer have become the norm in the game now- but these figures have taken money to a new level of obscenity.

It’s reported that Neymar will earn:
Year: £30,992,000

Month: £2,384,000

Week: £596,000

Day: £85,142

Hour: £3,547

Minute: £59
Many people are questioning Neymar’s morals – and claiming money is the only reason he is leaving. Will the never ending supplies of cash go to his head and affect his performance on the pitch?
                                          

 Why the move makes sense: 

1. Brazilian connection: 

Neymar will join four of his other Brazilian team mates in : Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura, and Dani Alves; who he played alongside at Barcelona . This is likely to ease the settling in side of things which could see him kickstart his career in the French capital effectively. As he’s also played with them for the national side, they will have good chemistry and understanding of each other which will work to his strengths.

2. Messi :

Although I believe ‘ MSN’ was the perfect attacking threesome and he is foolish to dispose of this, at 25 years old he is just reaching the optimum point for growth in his glittering career. He has seen the writings on the wall, and recognises that Messi will always be the king of Catalonia for as long as he’s alive, even after he retires.

Trying to out do him is an impossible task. I think Neymar realised this, and thus took a leap of faith to join a team where he can be “the man”. This transfer has presented him with this opportunity.

3. New Challenge: 

Having won everything there is to win at Barca, Neymar felt like he was ready for a new opening. He understands that PSG is not the same team, and his chances of winning as much are restricted- but this is what he has said he is craving, “a new challenge”- to stimulate him to be hungry for success.

The move will be life changing for him and will certainly test his abilities in the highest way possible. Can he rise up to this, though?

To Conclude: 

This transfer comes across as step backwards in terms of his footballing career.

If his reason for switching allegiances is to emulate Messi and Ronaldo, which it appears as he described his situation as “needing a new challenge”- in order to take him to the next level- it could prove strenuous.

He felt like he had achieved everything possible at Barca, so as a human; needed to present himself with new goals to remain hungry for success. PSG are capable of winning trophies, but not in the same manner as Barcelona.

He won’t be surrounded by the same quality of players, will have to adjust to the league, adapt his playing style, and attempt to be the driving force in the side.

Barcelona’s famous mantra  ” Mes que un club” – more than just a club, shines through. They only want players who are committed to the cause, who feel a bond with the ‘Boixos Nois’- the Barcelona fans who run the show in the stands, through non stop chanting,  who know and love the Barca way of playing- elegant but deadly, will not be fazed by this.

They appear to have put him behind them, as they prepare to fill the void of the tricky. winger. Barca have been linked with the likes of Juventus’ Paulo Dybala, Borussia Dortmund’s; Ousmane Dembele and  Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho as potential suitors for the role.

It is a “challenge” that Neymar has asked for, however I believe he may have got himself in for something much more than that.

 

Tom Cavilla.