Brazilian given hero’s welcome by PSG
▶ Brazilian given big welcome by PSG fans as he watches teammates defeat Amiens
Neymar received a hero’s welcome from the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) faithful yesterday as he vowed to win “lots of trophies” following his world-record transfer from Barcelona.
The 25-year-old, who was signed for €222 million (Dh960m) on Thursday, was presented to fans at the club’s Parc des Princes stadium ahead of their opening Ligue 1 match of the new campaign against Amiens, which was won 2-0 thanks to goals from Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore.
“Thank you! I’m very happy, I’m delighted to be here for this new challenge,” said Neymar as fireworks went off around him and fans chanted his name.
“I want to win lots of trophies with you and I need your support to win these trophies,” added the former Barcelona and Santos star.
“Paris is magic!” he said in French before calling out the club’s motto: “Ici, c’est Paris!” – Here, it’s Paris.
The club replicated his linguistic efforts with a message beamed around its digital advertising hoardings in Portuguese: “Bem-vindo Neymar Jr” – Welcome Neymar Jr.
Hopes the Brazil forward would make his debut for the club yesterday were dashed by red tape as his international transfer certificate was not lodged in time with the French league authorities, meaning his role in the Amiens clash was as a spectator after his appearance on the pitch.
He will instead make his first league appearance for PSG next Sunday at Guingamp.
Neymar may be yet to kick a ball in competitive action for his new side but PSG have already started to recuperate part of the outlay they made on him.
The club sold more than 10,000 shirts with his name and No 10 on the back on Friday, bringing in around €1m.
The club had also expected to sell another 15,000 shirts yesterday during the match against Amiens, bringing in further revenue.
Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, has told Spanish radio Cadena Cope that Barcelona lost his support to retain his son when they refused to pay a bonus for signing a new contract last year.
After the deal for Neymar to leave Barcelona had been announced on Thursday, the striker had claimed in an Instagram video he had gone against the advice of his father.
However, Neymar Sr claimed the Barcelona board lost his support when they failed to pay the €26 million bonus due earlier this week unless Neymar remained at the club this season.
“In that moment Barcelona lost my support when they did that,” Neymar Sr said.
“Until that moment I was on Barcelona’s side, trying to convince Neymar to stay. But with the attitude of the board I couldn’t be on their side because the contract is explicit and clear.”
Barca spokesman Josep Vives confirmed on Friday that the club had deposited the bonus with a notary to be paid on September 1 if Neymar stayed.
However, the club has now recovered the money as according to Vives “the player hasn’t fulfilled his contract”.
Neymar Sr insisted the “brave” decision to move had been his son’s.
“The decision was his. He is where he dreamed of being. He is in a comfort zone, calm. He listened to the advice of his friends, of those around him and he wanted to face this challenge,” he said.
“I think he has been very brave, he had the right to take this decision.”