Neymar bid farewell to PSG. Recruited in 2017 for 222 million euros, the Brazilian has experienced ups and downs in the French capital. After six years, it was pushed out again this summer. If his dream was to return to FC Barcelona, he finally took the direction of Saudi Arabia. Indeed, Al-Hilal bent over backwards to welcome him, offering him many advantages (private plane, house, staff, etc.) in addition to a very large salary as well as the possibility of having the hand over his image rights.
But the Saudi team knows it hit the jackpot with Ney. A player who allows them to gain visibility and attract sponsors and supporters. A hen with golden eggs on which PSG will no longer count, which has also lost Lionel Messi. The two players were among the biggest jersey sellers in Paris. They were also appreciated by sponsors. The champions of France therefore lost big. But this is not a problem for them who count on Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé or Kang-In Lee.
Ney’s departure ‘helped’ PSG
Selling Neymar is also kind of good news for them. In addition to the price of his transfer, which brings in between 90 and 110 million euros depending on the bonuses, his departure “helped PSG keep Mbappé, spend 200 million euros on transfers and manage FFP”. This is what explains The Athletic this Thursday. The British media, renowned for its seriousness, reveals that the sale of Ney saved 100 million euros over the four years of contract he had left in the capital.
A source within PSG has, in fact, revealed that each year of the international auriverde contract until 2027 cost 25 million euros. A good thing for the financial health of PSG, which had to be careful not to break the rules of financial fair play. Especially since Paris was in the sights of UEFA. With Neymar less, but also Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and others, this has helped to clean up the payroll a little more. Especially since the contract signed by Kylian Mbappé in 2022 is very expensive.
KM7 and Paris are getting closer again
Some sources have also spoken of an amount of 200 million euros just for the last season. The sale of Neymar therefore solved part of the problem for PSG. The Athletic adds, moreover, that KM7 could give up part of its loyalty bonus instead of extending beyond June 2024. The Mbappé clan and PSG have therefore come closer since last week. The departure of Neymar, on which Paris no longer counted, probably weighed. Sport has also revealed that the captain of the Blues has again demanded the departure of his teammate this summer.
Finally, The Athletic specifies that the departure of the Brazilian also had an impact on recruitment. Eleven players have arrived, not counting the option to buy Hugo Ekitike which has been exercised. Paris, which has spent more than 200 million euros which will be amortized over several years, was able to do so in particular thanks to sales. That of Neymar will allow in particular to be able to move forward on the Randal Kolo Muani and/or Bradley Barcola files. PSG was therefore able to settle some of its financial worries while calming its relations with its star Kylian Mbappé.
