Neymar’s Parisian Delectation

On 3rd August, 2017, the footballing world came to a standstill. Neymar’s purported move from Spanish giants Barcelona to mega rich French club PSG was finalized. By triggering His release clause worth a record shattering €222 million, Neymar became the most expensive player ever. The transfer represented a major coup for the Paris based club and French Football at large, generating a lot of ecstasy among its supporters. On the other hand,Spanish Football and Barcelona (Except Real Madrid of course 😪) could only watch in bewilderment and anguish that the next big thing after Messi and Ronaldo had departed.

Paris, Home to the most successful French football club (Paris Saint Germain) and some of the finest

players to have graced the world stage like George Weah, Jay Jay Okocha, and Ronaldinho. After years in football obscurity, the arrival of new owners, Oryx Qatar Sports Investments in 2011 ushered in a new era of attracting established stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thiago Silva. This summer however, their spending power reached an unprecedented limit with the record breaking signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar from Barcelona. That alongside the loan signing of French prodigy Kylian Mbappé from Monaco and snapping up Dani Alves on a free transfer highlights the Paris based club's Champions League winning intentions. Unlike the 2012 signing of Zlatan Ibrahimović who was 31 years and well in the latter stages of his career, Neymar is 25 years old and entering his footballing peak years, a period a professional footballer is expected to be more prolific or have mastery over his position.

With an already impressive trophy laden career spanning his earlier days at Santos and later with Barcelona where he played 2nd fiddle to Lionel Messi and on some occasions 3rd fiddle to Luiz Suarez (if you add Luis Suarez’s impressive contribution),Neymar will feel a move to PSG is a step in the right direction. Firstly, to improve on his goal scoring,win trophies and surpass the feats achieved by Weah, Pauletta and Ibrahimović which would ultimately make him a club legend. Secondly, to achieve His Ballon d’Or dream and continue the trend set by his fellow compatriots in Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Kaka and Ronaldinho.Domestically, the target is to outdo Monaco and win the league. Possessing a star studded line up comprising the Samba contingent of Daniel Alves,Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, the exciting attacking quartet in Di Maria,Edinson Cavani,Kylian Mbappé and Julian Draxler, and the technically gifted ball winning midfielder Marco Verratti,winning the European champions league is no longer a distant illusion but a close reality.

Neymar will hope that his footballing career in France would be devoid of tax issues unlike his time in Spain. Earning a reported weekly wage of €600,000 a week after tax, critics have labelled his decision to leave a club of Barcelona's pedigree to PSG as money motivated.As cartoonishly depicted by 'BR Sports' on the right, whereas Ronaldinho viewed his move from PSG to Barcelona as a chance to win the Ballon d'Or in 2003 which he eventually succeeded in doing, Neymar views his move the other way round as a chance to make more money. Of course modern day football is business not emotions and laurels.

For now Neymar’s Parisian delectation(delight) isn’t just French Fries and Crepe’s but fine Veuve Clicquot Champagne with Petrossian Special Reserve Alverta Caviar. Certainly tasty but very expensive!!!

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