World sports has turned over on its head with Neymar’s exit from Barcelona.

Media and Twitter has gone into a firestorm of opinion and Permutations.

For some it’s the outrageous release clause of €222 million that PSG is very willing to pay.

For others it’s the disbelief that Neymar has abandoned a great club like Barca and sailed ship into PSG.

 

Here are 5 things you need to know about Neymar’s exit from Barca to PSG

 

1) This transfer is laced with political Implications

Qatar, has been isolated by sanctions imposed by its Middle East neighbors; Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain.  The country is thus eager to establish its credibility in football before it hosts the 2022 World Cup finals.

Signing Neymar will be a coup PR coup for Qatar who would be projecting a business-as-usual image to foreign allies and investors after two months locked in a bitter diplomatic dispute with its neighbors.

There have been reports that the Qatari state might pay Neymar the buy-out fee, thus ensuring that any transfer fee was not paid by PSG.

“It proves they have the funds available and they have some liquidity to still be taken seriously.”

 

La Liga is trying to block the move

 

All that is left is for PSG to stump up the cash. But there is a spanner in the works, as La Liga president Javier Tebas says he is ready to file a complaint about “financial dopers” Paris Saint-Germain to UEFA and the European Union for what he feels are clear breaches of financial fair play over their pursuit of Neymar.

La Liga, Javier Tebas, accused PSG of state-backed “financial doping”. And insist he was going to fight it.

 

 

Neymar  has officially requested a transfer

In a statement published some three hours later on the club’s official website, Barcelona said that Neymar had requested a transfer.

“The player Neymar Jr, accompanied by his father and agent, has informed FC Barcelona on Wednesday morning of his decision to leave the club in a meeting held at the Club’s offices,” read the statement.

“Faced with this position, the Club has referred them  to the buy-out clause of his existing contract which as of 1 July totals 222 million euros which will have to be deposited in its entirety.

 

According to sources Neymar wants to be his own man;

At Camp Nou, Neymar will never be the star attraction as long as Lionel Messi is around.

In March he scored two decisive goals against PSG, yet it seems that Messi took the glory as an adoring picture of Messi with fans made headline news

Arguably the most celebrated Barca star in the club history, Messi will forever be the face of Barcelona until he leaves.   Neymar can only  play second fiddle (or, perhaps, third if you were to ask Suarez).

When it comes to personal glory, the only path towards a Ballon d’Or for Neymar goes through the exit door.

 

 The total cost of the transfer;

A crazy €222 million release clause in pound sterling, that’s £199.1 million.

Neymar’s fees €150 million over five seasons. Agency fee to Neymar’s dad €40 million

This takes the full transaction to an approximate cost of €412 million ($615 million CDN, $489.45 million US, £369.7 million).

This smashes the record transfer fee for Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United last summer from Juve at £89.3 million

 

Barcelona  is sad to see Neymar leave

Defender Gerard Pique posts a Twitter image of himself with Neymar, along with the message “Se queda,” which translates as “he stays.”

Barcelona spokesperson Josep Vives later says: “Neymar’s departure is not in the club’s imagination; the club just thinks of keeping the best players like him, one of our main symbols.”

“Barca are not going to go without Neymar,” new coach Ernesto Valverde stresses after winning his first game in charge since replacing Luis Enrique at the end of last season. “We want him with us. We know the importance he has not just in our play, but also in the dressing room, where he contributes to the dynamic of the group. We want him with us, that’s clear.”

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu then tells The Associated Press: “He is not on the market.”

 

Messi says goodbye

Barcelona – Lionel Messi bid farewell to Neymar on Instagram Wednesday after the Brazilian striker told him and other Barcelona teammates he was leaving, saying it was a “huge pleasure” to have played with him.

Messi goodbye message yesterday kind of seals the coffin that there is no going back

“It was a huge pleasure having shared all those years with you, my friend @neymarjr,” Messi wrote on Instagram next to a montage of pictures of both football stars high-fiving, embracing or laughing.

“I wish you lots of luck in this new stage in your life. See you soon tkm,” he added. “Tkm” stands for “te quiero mucho” (I love you loads).

 

This is all so sad !

What? are they sharing the money with me