Let's get the expected out of the way. Yes, Neymar made his Paris Saint-Germain debut. Yes, he scored the final goal in PSG's 3-0 win over Guingamp. Yes, he made a delicious assist to Edinson Cavani.
But how about that own goal? What in the heck?
GOOOAAALLLL!!!!
In the summer of 1998, Nigerian wizard Jay-Jay Okocha arrived at Paris Saint-Germain for an exceptionally large fee of $18 million, making him the most expensive African player at the time. World renowned for his creativity, dribbling and playmaking, PSG’s capture of Okocha was not unlike this summer’s signing of Neymar.
During the quietest moments of the offseason, when nothing is stirring, not even Mino Raiola’s double chin, major footie outlets, without fail, turn to three sources to provide some semblance of news: #1. Diego Maradona — he’s guaranteed to have said something controversial in the last few days. #2. Sir Alex Ferguson — he’s guaranteed to have waxed lyrical on Cristiano Ronaldo or torn into Manchester United in the last few days. #3. Ronaldinho — he’s guaranteed to have done something, anything in the last few days.
Neymar wasn’t available for selection in Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 opener against Amiens on Saturday, but that really didn’t matter.
Barcelona, a club not used to losing star players, accepted the largest transfer fee of all-time as Paris Saint-Germain funded the release clause for Brazilian striker Neymar on Thursday. The $263,480,000 fee didn’t just shatter the old record, it eviscerated it, more than doubling the $117.6 million Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba.
The Neymar transfer saga is finally over. We have heard from Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Ronaldinho and Iniesta. But the one person we hadn’t heard from during this entire circus was the ring leader of the entire thing.
It isn't just a rumor anymore. Neymar has completed his move from Barcelona to PSG. Earlier today, Barcelona announced Neymar and his father had activated the Brazilian forward's buyout clause and now PSG have announced Neymar has officially joined the team.
PSG announced the move with this extremely cryptic tweet:
In a statement Thursday, Barcelona announced the fee to trigger Neymar's release clause had been paid by Neymar and his father, making the Brazilian attacker a free agent.
Barcelona's statement in full: