£199m move to PSG will make Neymar the world’s costliest footballer
Barcelona striker Neymar will fly to Qatar today to discuss a potential world-record €222 million (£199m) transfer to Paris St Germain, according to reports.
The 25-year-old Brazilian would become the most expensive footballer of all time if Ligue 1 club PSG sign him for a fee more than double the one Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba last summer.
Yesterday Qatari newspaper El Watan and various European publications claimed Neymar will visit Doha to meet PSG chairman Nasser Alkhelaifi ahead of what would be an historic move.
The stopover on a return flight from a promotional trip to China could also include a medical, reports suggest.
Neymar, pictured, has a contract with Barca running until 2021 that contains a €222m release clause, whichambitiouspsg, deposed by Monaco as French champions last term, appear prepared to activate. Thiago Silva and Dani Alves, colleagues of Neymar in the Brazil squad, have both spoken about their countryman’s potential switch to Paris, the latter urging his friend to “be brave”.
Signed from Santos in 2013, Neymar was heavily involved in Barca’s 3-2 friendly victory over Real Madrid in Miami on Saturday night. After the game Real captain Sergio Ramos said he hoped he had faced Neymar in a Barca shirt for “the last time”, whereas newly-installed Nou Camp boss Ernesto Valverde stressed the striker’s importance to his team as he looks to reclaim the Spanish title from Madrid.
Last week Neymar stormed out of training following an angry confrontation with team-mate Nelson Semedo. Hours later PSG defender Silva said details of a possible transfer might emerge “soon”.
Neymar, who was the catalyst for Barca’s famous Champions League comeback against PSG in March, has scored more than 100 goals in all competitions for the club. Philjoneshasbeenbanned for two matches and Daley Blind fined by Uefa after the Manchester United pair were found guilty of breaching the governing body’s doping regulations following the Europa League final in May.
Jones was understood to have been verbally abusive towards a doping control officer when he was requested to attend drugtesting after the final in Stockholm on 24 May, and will now miss the Uefa Super Cup match against Real Madrid next week and United’s first Champions League group stage match in September. He has also been fined €5,000.
It is understood Blind was reluctant to take a test as requested because he wanted to celebrate with team-mates, whose 2-0 victory over Ajax ensured qualification for this season’s Champions League. He was fined €5,000.
There is no suggestion that either player was guilty of doping.
United have been fined €10,000 over the rule breaches. The club have three days to appeal.
Uefa statement said: “The club (United) has been charged for infringements of the Uefa anti-doping regulations (ADR) concerning the doping control procedure.
“Philip Jones has been charged for insulting and directing abusive language towards the doping control officer (Article 15 (1) of the Uefa disciplinary regulations), as well as for lack of co-operation and respect towards the doping control procedure (Article 6.05 ADR).
“Daley Blind has been charged for violation and non-compliance with Article 6.05 (a) of the Uefa antidoping regulations, which states that ‘every player designated to undergo a doping control is personally responsible for reporting immediately to the doping control station as notified’.” l Manchester United have signed midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea. The 28-year-old Serbia international has agreed a threeyear contract and moves for a reported fee of around £40million.