Neymar has agreed to personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain and the French club is willing to pay Barcelona the Brazilian soccer star’s €222 million release clause, according to Marcelo Bechler of Esporte Interativo.
According to reports, Neymar is open to leaving Barcelona after growing uncomfortable in his role behind Lionel Messi and would like to get out from underneath the Argentine’s shadow. PSG’s acquisition of former Barcelona teammate and good friend Daniel Alves is also said to have played a role in Neymar’s willingness to join the French club.
News of the potential world-record transfer began to circulate Monday, and Barcelona were reported to be “very calm” in wake of the rumours, with a spokesperson telling media that “selling Neymar is not something the club would think about.”
“He is one of the most important players we have, we will not consider any offers we receive for him.”
Neymar has been a crucial part of Barcelona’s success since joining the Catalonian giants in 2013 from Brazil’s Portuguesa Santista. The 25-year-old forward has notched 68 goals in 123 appearances alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, comprising the sport’s most dangerous offensive attack.
PSG is coming off a disappointing 2016-17 campaign, missing out on the Ligue 1 title for the first time since 2011-12 and falling victim to arguably the greatest Champions League comeback of all time to, coincidentally, Barcelona in the Round of 16. Neymar played a pivotal role in that stunning victory, scoring a pair of goals in the dying minutes to help seal the 6-5 aggregate win.
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