Serge Aurier joins Hotspurs

SERGE AURIER

 The right-back has signed a contract with the Club until 2022 and will wear the number 24 shirt.

Serge came through the ranks at French club Lens and moved to Toulouse in January, 2012, where his performances earned him a place in the 2013-14 Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

The Ivory Coast international signed for PSG in July, 2014, initially on loan before making the move permanent in April 2015, and went on to appear 81 times and score five goals for the Parisians.

While at the Parc des Princes, Serge won two Ligue 1 titles, three French Cups, three French League Cups, four French Super Cups and was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for a second time in 2015-16.

He has represented his country 40 times, including three appearances at the 2014 World Cup, and was selected in the 2015 African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament when the Ivory Coast lifted the trophy.

Serge said: “This is a huge and exciting opportunity at a massive football club and I am determined to prove myself as a professional both on and off the pitch. This is a fresh start for me and I will do everything to make the Spurs fanbase, which is huge and diverse, proud of me. The fans are the most important people at any club and I am looking forward to showing them and everyone at Spurs the real Serge Aurier.”

Kylian Mbappe trains with France team-mates ahead of his move to PSG

MBAPPE

Kylian Mbappe put his impending transfer to Paris Saint-Germain behind him as he trained with France ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The Monaco forward is set to join PSG on an initial loan deal before a £166million permanent transfer to the Parisens next season. 

But despite his future being up in the air, Mbappe looked completely at ease on Wednesday as he was put through his paces by France coach Didier Deschamps. 

Mbappe was all smiles as he trained with his Les Bleus team-mates ahead of their qualifying clash with Holland on Thursday. He was even pictured sharing a joke with defender Layvin Kurzawa who he is set to join at the Parc des Princes.

The 18-year-old linked up with the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Lemar as France's star-studded squad geared up for the first of two qualifying matches - they take on Luxembourg on Saturday. 

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, Chelsea's N'Golo Kante, and Bayern Munich duo Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso are also included in the squad - though Barcelona's newest signing Ousmane Dembele has been left out.

Mbappe's club team-mate Thomas Lemar is also to leave the Stade Louis II. Liverpool officials have flown to Monaco to thrash out a £74m deal for Lemar and are also prepared to offer Divock Origi on loan. 

France are currently second in their qualification group, behind Sweden on goal difference and three points ahead of third-placed Holland.

But Deschamps insists he remains calm over his side's situation, with four games still remaining as France look to seal their place at Russia 2018. 

'Why doubt?', Deschamps told Le Parisien. 'Twelve points remain to be distributed. First place remains accessible. It is therefore useless to sound the alarm bell.'

He added: 'It (the Holland match) is very important, without being decisive, because there will be three more matches after.

'There is a legitimate agitation around - and it is up to us to ignore it. It is not by going into Thursday with fear in our belly that we will achieve our ends.'

According to reports in France, Mbappe's transfer will be made permanent for £166m as long as PSG avoid relegation from Ligue 1. 

The obligation means that even if Mbappe struggles to settle at the Parc des Princes or suffers a serious injury, PSG will still be forced to fork out for the youngster.

The structure of the deal is to allow PSG to skirt around Financial Fair Play rulings, after they signed Neymar from Barcelona for a world-record £198m fee earlier this summer.   

Nani touches down in Rome ahead of sealing move from Valencia to Lazio

NANI

Nani has arrived in Rome ahead of completing a move to Lazio from Valencia. 

The 30-year-old was pictured at Rome Airport with a club scarf as he prepares to tie up the formalities of his transfer. There are, however, conflicting reports as to the makeup of the deal for the Portuese winger.

According to Calciomercato negotiations have reached an advanced stage over a permanent move that could well be up to €15million (£13.8m). However, Sky Italia say Lazio will pay €8million (£7.3m) fee for an initial loan, with an option or obligation to buy.

Nani, who has two years left on his deal at the Mestalla, did not feature in Valencia's opening game of the season - a 2-2 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last weekend.

The forward performed well at Euro 2016 as Portugal won the European Championship, earning his switch to the Mestalla last summer.

He made 25 La Liga appearances in the 2016-17 campaign, scoring five goals and creating eight more. 

During his time at Old Trafford, Nani won four Premier League titles as well as winning the Champions League in the 2007-08 campaign.

As part of the same deal with agent Jorge Mendes, Lazio will also sign youngsters Bruno Jordao and Pedro Neto from Braga.

Meanwhile, Lazio target Lucas Perez looks to be edging closer to a return to Deportivo La Coruna. 

Tite urges Coutinho to find 'a place where he feels happy'

COUTINHO

Philippe Coutinho was put through his paces during a Brazil training session on Wednesday with his club future hanging in the balance.

Coutinho trained as normal with his Brazil team-mates as they prepared for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia.  

Barcelona are pressing on with their pursuit of the midfielder despite having three bids rejected by Liverpool this summer already - the most recent worth £114million.  

But with just one day remaining in the Premier League transfer window, Coutinho turned his attentions to international duty as Brazil bid to seal their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

  

Brazil looked in good spirits as they trained, with the likes of Neymar, Marcelo and Gabriel Jesus all finding time to joke around during the session. 

And Liverpool fans will also be encouraged to see Coutinho messing about with his club team-mate Roberto Firmino in Porto Alegre. 

The five-time world champions are on course to qualify as they sit top of their South American qualifying section, nine points ahead of second-placed Colombia. 

Tite's side host Ecuador in Porto Alegre on Thursday night before traveling to Colombia four days later.

And the Brazil coach revealed Coutinho will start on the bench on Thursday, with Willian set to start.

Speaking about the Chelsea midfielder, Tite said: 'He has been playing, he is doing great so, in fairness, he will start the match and Coutinho is benched.'

Tite also said he told Coutinho he needed to be in a 'place where he feels happy; if it's at Liverpool - if it's a move to Barcelona.'

Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez confirmed to Sportsmail that the Catalans were in negotiations to sign one unnamed player - possibly Coutinho. 

Reports in Spain suggest that Barcelona will turn their attentions to Monaco's Thomas Lemar should they fail to sign Coutinho. 

Liverpool themselves are targeting Lemar and the Merseyside club have sent officials to Monaco in an attempt to seal a £74m deal for the France international. 

But Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona have now made Lemar their 'Plan B' - with Liverpool so far remaining firm in their refusal to sell Coutinho.

Neymar meanwhile could soon be joined by another superstar signing at the PSG, with Kylian Mbappe closing in on a loan move to the Parc des Princes from Monaco.

The deal will involve an obligation to buy the striker for £166m at the end of the season and is structured to avoid PSG falling foul of Financial Fair Play regulations.  

Robin van Persie trains with Holland team-mates

van PERSIE

Robin van Persie trained with his Holland team-mates on Wednesday as he prepared for a potential comeback appearance in the World Cup qualifier against France.

Van Persie has not appeared for Holland since October 2015 - when he scored at both ends in a 3-2 Euro 2016 qualifying loss to Czech Republic. 

His form for club side Fenerbahce has since earned him a recall after two years out in the cold and he looked ready to seize the opportunity on Wednesday, as he was put through his paces during a training session at the Stade de France. 

The ex-Manchester United and Arsenal striker is bidding to help Holland turn around their fortunes after they missed out on qualification for Euro 2016.

But Dick Advocaat's men face a tough task in Group A, as they sit three points behind second-placed France with just four games remaining. 

Only the first-placed team are guaranteed qualification for Russia 2018 with the eight best runners-up from the nine groups entering a two-legged play-off tie. 

Van Persie was joined by the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Daley Blind and Arjen Robben as Holland prepared for the first of two World Cup qualifiers - they face Bulgaria on Saturday after Thursday's clash with France.

And despite the strength of France's star-studded squad, Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben is upbeat on Holland's chances in Paris.

'Of course, France have, in terms of quality, a really good team, but I don't want to talk about them,' Robben said ahead of Thursday's match at the Stade de France. 

'I think we must not think that we are not as good, we must be convinced of our own qualities and believe that we can beat them.

'I'm always very positive. We can well say that it will be difficult because France have a better team, but if you think like that, then you might as well stay at home.

'We must go to Paris with conviction. It is a bit like the situation at the World Cup in 2014. If you believe in something and have the requisite ambition, you can go far.'

Holland managed a third-placed finish at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil but have since struggled - Advocaat's predecessor Danny Blind lost his job following a defeat at Bulgaria in March. 

Van Persie has made 101 appearances for Holland in total since making his international debut in 2005, scoring 50 goals in the process.  

Chelsea hold talks over Diego Costa

COSTA

Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have held further talks on Wednesday over a compromise fee for Diego Costa.

A Spanish lawyer representing Chelsea is understood to have listened to Atletico's proposal which is to pay around £39m with a further £10m based on add-ons.

Costa has interest from Everton, Las Palmas and Besiktas among others over a potential short term loan until he is cleared to be registered to play for Atletico Madrid in January.

The Brazil-born striker is keen to leave Stamford Bridge after being made surplus to requirements ahead of the start of the new season.

He revealed over the summer that he had received a text from Antonio Conte telling him he was no longer part of his plans.

In an interview with Sportsmail, which took place in his home town of Lagarto, where he has spent his summer, Costa said he felt as though he had been treated like a 'criminal'.

The 28-year-old has insisted that the only club he will join is his former side Atletico, who he won La Liga within 2013-14.  

Jürgen Klopp: I've been watching Alex's progress since 2014

CHAMBERLAIN

Jürgen Klopp has outlined his delight at adding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to his Liverpool project, three years after first noticing his talents during a Champions League game as Borussia Dortmund manager.

The 24-year-old penned a long-term deal with the Reds on Thursday to seal a deadline-day switch from Arsenal.

Klopp admits he has long held admiration for Oxlade-Chamberlain ever since he caught the eye of the boss after coming on as a substitute for the Gunners in a European tie in Dortmund back in September 2014.

The manager told Liverpoolfc.com: “I am really, really happy we have got Alex signed. Since the last game I have been waiting and hoping we could make this transfer - and when I got the news he was ours it was fantastic.

“I remember the first time I saw him play live - it was at Dortmund in 2014 and he came on as a sub that day and made a big impact. He stood out immediately because of his pace and skills and his attitude in such a big game for a young player; I remember him chasing back to make a brilliant challenge on Mkhitaryan in the box to save a certain goal.

“We won that game but lost the return match at Arsenal when he started and played well, I think he hit the post. Since then I have followed him and when I heard it may be possible to sign him I didn't need to think twice.

“I hear a lot of talk about positions but let's talk about the player; he is someone with really good abilities who always gives everything for his team. A player that is positive and willing to take risks to try and make positive things happen. 

“He may still be young but he has a lot of experience in the Premier League, Champions League and for his country. Already he is a very, very good player and I think he has the mentality and desire to get even better - and that excites me. 

“This is someone making a tough decision to leave one great club and come to another great club and I think he had many options, so to get him means I am delighted.

“He didn't make an easy decision but I think he made a great one to go on this journey with this squad of talented boys and our great supporters. I welcome him to the Liverpool family.”

Arsenal rejects £50m bid for Alexis Sanchez from Man City

SANCHEZ

Sky Sports News reported earlier on Tuesday that City were preparing to make an offer for the Chile international, with manager Pep Guardiola keen to secure his services before the close of the summer transfer window.

It is understood City remain committed to a cash deal and no sum was mentioned in terms of an improved offer for Sanchez.

Despite turning down the offer, Sky Sports News understands Arsenal would consider the option of England winger Raheem Sterling being included in any deal that takes Sanchez to the Etihad.

However, any deaI involving Sterling would also include Arsenal paying a fee to City as a makeweight.

Sanchez has less than 11 months remaining on his current contract and is yet to sign terms on a fresh deal at the Emirates.

Arsenal denied claims Sanchez had handed in a transfer request on Monday night, but Chilean media T13 reported on Tuesday that the 28-year-old had asked to leave the Chile training camp to "conduct personal business".

Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to keep Sanchez throughout the summer and said earlier this month that he hoped the former Barcelona man would extend his contract.

Sanchez made his first appearance of the new Premier League season in the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool on Super Sunday having been given extra time off in the summer after competing for Chile at the Confederations Cup in Russia.

During the competition in Russia, Sanchez was asked by Sky Sports News whether he would remain at Arsenal beyond this summer's window and replied: "I don't know."

Sanchez enjoyed his most prolific scoring campaign for Arsenal last season, netting 30 goals in 51 appearances having been deployed in a central striking role.

Source: Skysports

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rejects Chelsea and wants Liverpool move

CHAMBERLAIN

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has turned down the opportunity to join Premier League champions Chelsea, according to Sky sources.

The Gunners had agreed to sell the England international to their London rivals for a fee believed to be £35m.

However, Sky Sports News understands the 24-year-old favours a move to Liverpool ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is out of contract at the end of the season and is now set to either see out the remaining 11 months of his Arsenal deal or move to Liverpool, were they to put in a bid and have it accepted.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is currently on duty with the England squad, has started all of Arsenal's games this season but met manager Arsene Wenger ahead of Sunday's 4-0 loss to Liverpool, to discuss his future.

Former Arsenal man Nigel Winterburn thinks it is time for Oxlade-Chamberlain to depart and told Sky Sports News on Tuesday: "Personally, I think he has had enough at Arsenal.

"It is time to move on and face a new challenge."

Drinkwater hands in Leicester transfer request and wants Chelsea move

DRINKWATER

Leicester City and Chelsea are still "a long way apart" in their valuation of Danny Drinkwater, who has handed in a transfer request, according to Sky sources.

The England midfielder is understood to want to move to Stamford Bridge but the West London club have failed to meet Leicester's valuation so far, with a fee of £25m having been discussed.

The Foxes do not want to sell their prize playmaker and Sky Sports News understands it will take an exceptional offer in excess of £30m to prise him away from the King Power Stadium before the deadline.

Sky sources understand the later a new offer is made for Drinkwater, the more reluctant Leicester will be to sell, because of the difficulty they would have in finding a suitable replacement at short notice.

Chelsea have already signed combative midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco this summer but Blues manager Antonio Conte wants Drinkwater to bring something different to the team.

The champions also sold Nemanja Matic to Manchester United - something Conte was reportedly not on board with - and Drinkwater has been highlighted as a possible replacement for the Serb.

Drinkwater only recently signed a new four-year contract but he would also be reunited with former Leicester team-mate N'Golo Kante should he move to Stamford Bridge.

The pair starred alongside each other as Leicester clinched the Premier League title in 2015-16.

New signing Bakayoko insists he is not threatened by the possibility of Drinkwater joining Chelsea.

"Competition only makes you better. I am not scared of anyone," Bakayoko told French media SFR Sport. "I think that there are not enough of us in midfield, especially with all the competitions we will be playing in.

"We need another midfielder to reinforce the team, so it is a very good thing that he could be coming."

Source: Skysports

SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL CAREER BRANDING

SAMUEL APPIAH

PERSONAL BRANDING

Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands.

The term branding has long been relegated to companies, but today almost every individual has a personal brand. Though we do not pay attention to guide and nurture it.

Most job-seekers are not proactive in building and maintaining their career brand, allowing your brand speaks for you when seeking promotions or new jobs. It has become very crucial to take time to master some very basic tactics that can help build your career brand and make you a much more attractive employee or job-seeker. Remember, if you don’t brand yourself, others will do for you anyway, and while you may be happy and secured in your job now, you really never know when things will change. In nurturing your personal brand, there is the need to consider these;

See yourself as a brand : Is there a certain subject matter in which you want to be perceived as an expert or are there general qualities you want linked to your brand? Once you understand how you wish your brand to be perceived, you can start to be much more strategic about your personal brand.

Complete Education/Training: For many careers, a minimum amount of education is necessary, but to excel in your career you may need to complete additional education, training, or certifications. Getting additional education can greatly enhance your career brand.It may be hard in terms of time and finances, but find a way to do it. Some employers even offer an educational reimbursement benefit. Self-learning is another option.If you are unsure if you need more education — and you probably do — seek out a mentor, someone highly respected in your field (who has branded himself or herself well), and ask for advice.

Gain experience: Building your brand begins with tracking your past achievements and gaining tactically important new experiences. Your achievements are the basis of your career brand and your brand story.

Before you seek out new opportunities, take the time to plan and focus on what you want your brand to stand for and develop a strategy for gaining experience in areas of your brand in which you are weak. So, besides performing your duties, ask for new and challenging assignments that will build your brand. Use volunteering to gain experience if you’re a student, seek out multiple internships. To excel in your career you may need to complete additional education, training, or certifications. Getting additional education can greatly enhance your career brand.

Create an online presence: You cannot build your brand without considering marketing yourself online. There are a lot of platforms to showcase your brand online; typical is LinkedIn, Google+, tweeter and other professional online apps. Differentiate yourself with middle names from other people who may bear the same names with you.

Securing a personal website for yourself is one of the best ways to rank for your name on the search engines. It can be a simple two to three page site with your resume, link to your social platforms, and a brief bio. You can always expand on the website with time when you gather more experience. You can have an amazing brand, but if no one knows about it, you are not going to have much success with your career development. And no one more than you has more reasons to promote your brand.

Associate with other brands: Your personal brand is strengthened or weakened by your connection to other brands. Find and leverage strong brands which can elevate your own personal brand.

Nothing in marketing is more powerful in building your career brand than what your network of contacts; colleagues, college, clients, and former bosses — say about you and your set of skills, education, and actions. And keeping your network strong involves nothing more than relationship building. Keep in good contact with your network and be sure they know of your most recent achievements.

Once you identify and build your brand, remember to continue strengthening and protecting it. There will always be competing brands (job-seekers) ready to fill any gap you leave behind.

Most importantly, remember that a strong personal brand should be global and ever evolving.

Become an Expert: Nothing builds credibility in a career brand more than establishing yourself as an expert in your field. Start by writing articles that showcase your knowledge — and getting them published (ideally) in noteworthy media outlets. Consider self-publishing. Seek out conferences and meetings where you can give speeches and presentations. Play up awards and other recognition that can help label you an expert. Get quoted by offering your thoughts, ideas, and opinions to journalists and reporters. Consider constructing a professional Website or blog where you can publish all your articles and speeches.

Build Relationships: Nothing in marketing is more powerful than a promotion tool called word-of-mouth, which can be defined as what people say about you. Thus, nothing is more powerful in building your career brand than what your network of contacts — your friends, colleagues, customers, clients, and former bosses — say about you and your set of skills, education, and accomplishments. And keeping your network strong involves nothing more than relationship building. Keep in good contact with your network and be sure they know of your most recent successes. But the best brand-builders don’t stop with their current network; these folks are in constant network-building mode. Search out new professional associations as well as the growing number of online networking communities.

Neymar touches down in Paris ahead of his PSG unveiling following world record £198m move from Barcelona

NEYMAR JNR

Neymar will be unveiled as a Paris Saint-Germain player in an official ceremony on Friday in Paris at 12.30pm UK time to end a saga unlike anything seen in football before.

The Brazilian left Barcelona for the last time after completing his world record move to PSG, and touched down in Paris mid-morning on Friday. 

He was greeted on the tarmac by recently retired PSG left back and Brazil international Maxwell, now an ambassador for the club, before leaving La Bourget airport amidst a motorcade of people carriers.

The striker earlier arrived at Barcelona airport to catch a flight to Paris where he will be officially unveiled after his £198million transfer. 

The fee - the amount which was included in his Barca contract as a release clause - is £109m higher than the previous world record fee, the £89m paid by Manchester united for Paul Pogba.

Neymar was unsurprisingly mobbed as he arrived at departures in Barcelona, both by photographers and by desperate fans.

Two young supporters managed to get close to the Brazilian superstar, one asking for a final autograph, the other putting his arm around Neymar's shoulder.

The striker was later spotted going through airport security, ahead of his flight to the French capital, completing an astonishing move totally unexpected when the transfer window opened. 

Earlier Neymar was pictured leaving his home in the Spanish city, followed by his father, Neymar senior.

The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract worth £500,000 a week and is in line to make his debut on Saturday at home to Amiens in Ligue 1. 

He will wear the No 10 shirt at PSG, following in the footsteps of fellow countryman Ronaldinho, as well as Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Demand for the shirt is huge, with fans queuing up along the Champs Elysees to get their hands on one from the official club shop.

On Thursday, Neymar penned an emotional goodbye to Barcelona after leaving the Nou Camp.

Shortly after the record-breaking move was announced he had shared a lengthy video to his 79 million Instagram followers.

Speaking to the camera as he read a message written on his phone, Neymar thanked Barcelona for the last few years and revealed his father did not want him to leave.

He said: 'An athlete needs challenges, and for the second time in my life I will contradict my father. 

Papa, I understand and respect your opinion, but my decision is made and I ask you to support me as you always do.' 

Neymar also heaped praise on Lionel Messi, who he regards as the best footballer he will see in his lifetime. 

He said: 'I am sure I will never see another one like him while I'm alive. Leo Messi became my friend in and out of the pitch. It was an honour to play with you.

'I made a trio with Messi and Suarez that made history, conquered everything an athlete can conquer, lived unforgettable moments, lived in a city that is more than a city, it is a homeland.  I love Barcelona and Catalonia.'

Leicester complete signing of striker Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City for £25m on a five-year contract

IHEANACHO

 

Leicester have completed the signing of striker Kelechi Iheanacho from Manchester City for £25million on a five-year contract.

City have inserted a buy-back clause of £50m for the 20-year-old, who could make his Foxes bow at home in their friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday.

Nigeria international Iheanacho, who will wear No 8, said: 'It feels good and I'm happy to be part of this team. 

'I know the ambition of the team and speaking with the manager, he let me know what I need to do – to help the team achieve what they want. I was convinced and I'm happy to be here.

'I was happy speaking with the manager, knowing what the team wants. It gives me more confidence that I will fit in this team and hopefully I'll achieve a lot.' 

Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare backed Iheanacho, who scored 12 Premier League goals in 46 City appearances, to push on from his promising displays in Manchester and become one of the division's most dangerous marksmen.

'It's a great signing for us,' Shakespeare said. 'Kelechi is an enormously talented player that has shown a huge amount of promise at every level in which he's played.

'We've tracked his progress for some time, so we know how much quality he'll bring to the squad. 

'He's young, he's hungry, he's ready for the next stage of his development and I'm delighted that will be with Leicester City.' 

Leicester's season starts on Friday, August 11 with an away trip to Arsenal. 

Neymar completes world-record £198m move to PSG, signing five-year deal as Barcelona exit is finally sealed

NEYMAR JNR

 

 

Neymar has finally completed his world-record £198m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in a deal the French side say 'emphasises more than ever the club's aims to rise to the top of world football.'

After weeks of intense speculation regarding the move, the 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract worth £500,000 a week and is in line to make his debut on Saturday at home to Amiens in Ligue 1. He will wear the No 10 shirt, as revealed by Dugout.

Neymar, who will be officially unveiled at 1.30pm French time on Friday at a press conference, said: 'Since I arrived in Europe, the club has always been one of the most competitive and most ambitious.

NEYMAR'S CAREER

2009-2013: Santos - 225 appearances and 136 goals

2013-2017:  Barcelona - 186 appearances and 105 goals

2017-present: Paris Saint-Germain - 0 appearances and 0 goals so far... 

For his country Brazil, Neymar has scored 52 goals in 77 appearances 

'And the biggest challenge, what most motivated me to join my new team-mates is to help the club to conquer the titles that their fans want. 

'Paris Saint-Germain's ambition attracted me to the club, along with the passion and the energy this brings. 

'I played four seasons in Europe and I feel ready to take the challenge. From today, I will do everything I can to help my new team-mates, to open up new horizons for my club and to bring happiness to its millions of supporters around the world.'

Neymar had to buy himself out of his contract with Barcelona in order to complete his move to France following a battle between the French and Spanish leagues over the payment of his world-record fee.

The head of Spain’s La Liga, Javier Tebas, did his best to sabotage the transfer by rejecting attempts by the Brazilian to pay his buy-out fee at the league offices on Thursday morning.

With the French season starting on Friday and Neymar desperate to make his PSG debut against Amiens, the Spanish League — still reeling from losing a poster-boy player — appeared to have succeeded in bringing the deal to a temporary halt.

But the sports lawyer representing Neymar, Juan de Dios Crespo, later deposited the cheque directly with Barcelona to free the player to be presented as PSG’s new signing.

Tebas believes the French side are breaking financial fair play regulations with the world record transfer and has also pointed the finger at Qatar’s government, who he claims are bankrolling the club with financial injections tantamount to illegal state aid. 

HISTORY OF WORLD'S BIGGEST TRANSFERS

Neymar's move to PSG is easily the biggest transfer ever to occur in the history of football. Here are all the times since the turn of the century that the record has been broken...

August 9, 2016 - Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United, £89m) 

September 1, 2013 - Gareth Bale (Tottenham to Real Madrid, £85m)

July 6, 2009 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid, £80m) 

June 9, 2009 - Kaka (AC Milan to Real Madrid, £56m) 

July 10, 2001 - Zinedine Zidane (Juventus to Real Madrid, £45m) 

July 24, 2000 - Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid, £37m) 

July 13, 2000 - Hernan Crespo (Parma to Lazio, £36m) 

'It is with immense joy and pride that we welcome Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain,' he said.

'His winning mentality, strength of character and sense of leadership have made him into a great player. 

'He will bring a very positive energy to this club. In six years, we have built a very ambitious project that has already taken us to the highest level of national and European football. 

'Today, with the arrival of Neymar, I am convinced that we will come even closer, with the support of our faithful fans, to realising our greatest dreams.' 

For Barcelona, Neymar's exit delivers a significant blow so close to the start of the La Liga season on August 20. His exit dismantles their formidable three-pronged attack, affectionately known as 'MSN', which comprised of the Brazilian, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Barcelona have been strongly linked with a move for Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho as Ernesto Valverde looks to reshape his side ahead of his first season as the Nou Camp manager.

They are also interested in Ousmane Dembele of Borussia Dortmund and Sportsmail understands an alternative to Dembele, who is valued at £90m, could be the significantly cheaper Angel di Maria. 

The Argentine, currently at PSG, would arrive as a stopgap until in a year’s time they could target Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, whose buy-out clause will have returned from £200m — this summer’s price while the club are banned from registering new players — to £100m.

The Di Maria option, however, would require a major thawing of relations between the two clubs.

Barcelona stars Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano had made public and private pleas for Neymar to stay in Spain, but their efforts failed.

Neymar joined Barcelona in 2013 from boyhood club Santos. In Spain, he won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies and the Champions League, as well as the Club World Cup and Spanish Super Cup.

At PSG, he will be tasked with spearheading their bid to reclaim the French league title after Unai Emery's side finished second to Monaco last season. It ended a four-year streak of PSG winning Ligue 1.

But domestic success will be only part of what PSG are aiming to achieve with Neymar in their ranks.

Since they were bought by Qatar Sports Investments in 2012, the furthest the club have gone in the Champions League is the quarter-final stage.

Last season, PSG thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in the second round first-leg, before Neymar inspired his side to an astonishing 6-1 victory in the return fixture at the Nou Camp, where the Spanish club scored three times in the final three minutes of the match.

Shortly after his PSG transfer was announced, Neymar uploaded an emotional post on Instagram to reflect on his four years at Barcelona. 

He paid tribute to a number of team-mates and revealed he went against the advice of his father in moving to France.

His post read: 'The life of an athlete is made by challenges. Some are given to us, others are fruits of our own decisions to keep the light that illuminates our career, which is intense, but short.

'Barcelona was much more than a challenge, it was the dream of a child, who played with those stars through the video game. I arrived in Catalonia when I was 21, filled with challenges.

'I can still remember my first days in the Club, sharing the changing room with idols like Messi, Valdes, Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, Pique, Busquets and many others. Waiting my turn to play in a club that's 'more than a club'. Barcelona is a nation that represents Catalonia!

'I had the honour of playing with the best athlete I have ever seen in my life and I am sure I will never see another one like him while I'm alive. Leo Messi became my friend in and out of the pitch. It was an honour to play with you.

'I made a trio with Messi and Suarez that made history, conquered everything an athlete can conquer, lived unforgettable moments, lived in a city that is more than a city, it is a homeland. I love Barcelona and Catalonia.

'But an athlete (me) needs challenges. And for the second time in my life I will contradict my father.

'Papa, I understand and respect your opinion, but my decision is made and I ask you to support me as you always do.

'So, go with God and be happy, ok son. But run! Kiss, I'm running up here with you.'

'Barcelona and Catalonia will always be in my heart but I need new challenges.

'I have accepted the proposal of PSG to try new achievements and help the Club to win the titles that their crowd wants. They showed me a daring career plan and I feel ready to take on this challenge.

'I thank the wonderful Blaugrana crowd and all that I have learned from the athletes with whom I had the chance to share the dressing room.

'Now I feel in my heart that it's time to leave. PSG will be my home for the next years and I will work hard to honour all of the trust placed in my football.

'I'm counting on the support of all of you who have been with me since 2009. Fans, friends, professionals who are with me and my family, who suffered a lot with some problems that took place during that period in my career. Today you deserve peace.

'It's a very hard decision, but I made it with the maturity I accumulated throughout those 25 years.

'Barcelona, ​​thank you for everything. PSG, I am coming!! May God bless and protect us!'

Neymar has picked the same No 10 shirt as former PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Brazilian icon Ronaldinho, who spent his first years in Europe in Paris.

Brazil legend Pele was quick to congratulate his compatriot on the transfer, posting a comment on Twitter alongside a picture of himself holding the World Cup in front of the Eiffel Tower.

'Congratulations Neymar, good luck in your new challenge. Paris is a beautiful city, one of my favourite (sic) in the world!'