The Neymar operation as observed from Qatar
When Neymar’s transfer to PSG unravelled I was caught in Qatar, where we signed and presented a new agreement with AS Arabia – a project in collaboration with the country’s premier media group, Dar Al-Sharq. It was an interesting place to follow the Neymar transaction go through, with Tebas’ attempts to derail it. That came as a surprise to those in Qatar. I tried to explain the issue from LaLiga’s point of view and about UEFA’s Financial Fair Play. Over there, it’s not such a big deal. One understands that PSG have the money from the sponsorship arrangement with Qatar and they have the right to spend it as they wish. However the transfer drew criticism from those who argued that playing such a figure on one player is excessive.
Terms of Neymar's release clause were honoured
Tebas’ intervention was merely a gesture and that’s how it will remain. Some considered it to be useless yet cunning; others didn’t see it that way. After that Barça did indeed accept the 222 million euros because it was obliged to do so. In the contract they signed with Neymar, that was the figure which was stated in black and white and therefore the club had to release him; it was all pretty straightforward. Barça couldn’t object. It’s a setback and a morale defeat, but looking at it another way, it’s not really so bad. After four years at the club, Neymar left 105 goals and 222 million euros in the bank. His transfer fee on joining Barça had gone, according to the fudged figures, from “57.1 million and that’s that” to almost double that. Now with his sale to PSG, the returns Barça have gained are not bad at all.
Neymar arrival causes mayhem in Paris
And in Paris, they’re splashing out like there’s no tomorrow. Neymar was welcomed by fans to a backdrop of blue, white and red smoke while queues stretched back down streets in the rush to buy a No.10 shirt with his name on the back – the kind of frenzy you see whenever a new iPhone is launched. He’s exactly the kind of player who PSG can build their franchise around and that is what Nasser Al Khelaifi has been looking for in his long-term project for the club. Qatar started by backing Barça (during both my outward and return journeys with Qatar Airways, I watched in-flight adverts featuring Barça players), but Al Khelaifi, who prefer a team of their own, in Paris. Barça and Qatar have said goodbye, Neymar has gone to Paris and UEFA have decided to look the other way - for the time being. They say that they plan to wait to see whether PSG sell players before totting up the figures...