Neymar appears to be one step closer to the City of Light.
The FC Barcelona superstar agreed to a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Sky Sports news reported on Twitter, citing sources.
According to Sky Sports’ breakdown of Neymar’s contract, PSG will pay him €100 million (£90 million/$119 million) per season in salary in bonuses. However, that amount won’t enter his account due to France’s 75 percent tax on its highest earners.
ESPN on July 22 reported further details of Neymar’s proposed PSG contract, claiming he’ll earn €29.8 million (£26.7 million/$35 million) per season after taxes, plus other on-field bonuses and off-field marketing opportunities.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo and Qatar’s Al Watan reported this week Neymar agreed to a €300 million (£269 million/$356 million) contract to be an ambassador for the Qatar-hosted 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to The Guardian’s Paul MacInnes.
That ambassadorial contract could pave the way for Neymar to pay buy out his Barcelona contract for €222 million (£197.3 million/$257 million), join PSG — the team owned by Oryx Qatar Sports Investments — in the coming days as a free agent, absolve his new team of breaking UEFA’s financial-fair-play rules and pocket the remaining €78 million (£70 million/$92 million).
The deal will make Neymar, 25, the most expensive transfer in soccer history and the highest-paid player ever.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
