Neymar ready to conquer Europe

BRAZILIAN superstar Neymar was expected in the French capital early today, promising to bring glory to Paris Saint-Germain after signing a world record transfer deal with the ambitious Qatari-owned club.

The 25-year-old forward doubled the previous record fee with his $332 million move from Barcelona and will earn a reported $45 million a year under the new deal.

“I am extremely happy to join Paris Saint-Germain,” Neymar said.

“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 along with the passion and the energy this brings. I played four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge.

“I will do everything I can to help my new teammates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.”

PSG wasted no time in pressing Neymar’s commercial value by announcing that shirts bearing his name will be on sale by today at the club’s megastore on the Champs Elysees.

Football legend Pele congratulated Neymar on his move, telling his successor in the famed Brazilian No.10 shirt: “Good luck for your new challenge.”

“Paris is a beautiful city and one of my favourites in the world,” three-time World Cup winner Pele wrote on Twitter.

The transfer is more than double the previous world record set by Manchester United’s capture of Paul Pogba from Juventus last year for $156 million, leaving many commentators aghast at the rampant inflation in football transfer fees.

Leading coaches such as Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger and Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho lamented that the move could cause even greater inflation in transfer fees and player wages.