 |
| 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.'
No comments:
Post a Comment