Neymar ready to make debut as Barca receive PSG money
paris — Neymar is free to make his Paris Saint-Germain debut at Guingamp on Sunday after Barcelona confirmed on Friday the 222 million-euro ($261 million) cheque used to pay his buyout clause had cleared.
“The cheque has cleared and therefore puts in motion the process of the transfer,” said a Barcelona club source.
The French Football Federation (FFF) and French league (LFP) confirmed to AFP on Friday that the player’s transfer certificate had been received from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
That will allow him to be registered for the game at the Stade du Roudourou.
“Neymar’s contract will be ratified during the afternoon. He will be able to play on Sunday,” said the LFP. Neymar’s move to the French giants that smashed the world record transfer fee was announced on August 3.
However, he had to watch last weekend’s 2-0 win over Amiens from the stands as the administrative formalities of the deal were not completed in time.
FFF president Noel Le Graet had earlier stated his confidence that Neymar would be able to make his bow in Brittany.
“There is no reason for this holdup to continue,” he told French sports daily L’Equipe.
“I do not doubt that this will be quickly solved.”
Once again, PSG’s main rivals for domestic honours appear to be Monaco, but they are in serious danger of losing rising star Kylian Mbappe to the capital outfit.
The 18-year-old, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, started in their opening 3-2 victory over Toulouse last weekend, as captain Radamel Falcao found the net.
Leonardo Jardim’s principality outfit will be expecting to make it two wins from two when they pay a visit to Dijon on Sunday.
Nice, who have the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Napoli on Wednesday, kick off the second weekend at home to promoted Troyes on Friday without their two star players, the injured Mario Balotelli and new signing Wesley Sneijder.
Lyon’s youthful side started with a 4-0 thumping of Strasbourg last week and travel out to Brittany to take on Rennes on Friday.
Marseille visit Claudio Ranieri’s Nantes on Saturday looking to build on their 3-0 win over Dijon last time out but with captain Dimitri Payet missing due to injury. — AFP