Report: PSG to hold Neymar talks after triggering €222M release clause

Paris Saint-Germain is quietly confident of undergoing successful talks with Neymar’s father on Wednesday or Thursday after meeting Barcelona’s €222-million release clause for the Brazilian, reports the Guardian’s Julien Laurens.

Leading figures in the Barca hierarchy have insisted the 25-year-old won’t be leaving the Camp Nou this summer, but PSG is now taking the next step in capturing Neymar. His cost would be over double the current world-record transfer fee Manchester United paid for Paul Pogba last summer.

Les Parisiens thought they were close to signing Neymar last summer, only for the forward to use their interest to earn a better contract in Catalonia. For that reason, PSG isn’t getting carried away but has been encouraged by recent developments.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Neymar’s chances of lifting himself above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s finest player are slim when he’s trying to out-sparkle Messi and Luis Suarez in the Blaugrana’s famed three-pronged attack. His opportunities to win the top individual awards were also lessened when Messi agreed to sign a new contract with Barcelona until 2021, amid apparent interest from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

For PSG, unveiling Neymar in a blockbuster move would vault the club into the upper echelons of the world game. Each of the last six seasons since PSG shuffled under Qatari ownership has featured an expensive, eye-catching addition, but this summer has yet to deliver on that trend. Neymar would roundly trump anything that’s happened before, thrusting PSG into the world’s consciousness not only through his on-field artistry, but through his huge marketing value.

And although PSG is blessed with several household names – Angel Di Maria, Edinson Cavani, and Julian Draxler are on the payroll – Neymar would certainly be the top man in the French capital, just as he was at Santos in Brazil. He would be expected to play protagonist in claiming back the Ligue 1 crown from Monaco, and to help PSG reach at least the semi-final stage of the Champions League for the first time since 1995.