Ronaldo wrecked! Record €90m transfer makes Neymar world’s best-paid

Robin Bairner

Updated: 14 Aug 2023 14:01 BST
4 min read

Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best-paid players in the world — © ProShots

PSG attacker Neymar has agreed to leave the club in what has been a remarkable turnaround in the future of the Brazil attacker, with a move to Al-Hilal of the Saudi Pro League close.

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Neymar, 31, had been expected to spearhead PSG’s Champions League challenge this season following the departure of Lionel Messi and the freezing out of Kylian Mbappe, but instead he will join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf.

Romano says that Al-Hilal are preparing the formalities for a transfer to be completed – and that Neymar has already said yes to the move.

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Taking to Twitter, Fabrizio Romano stated: “Al Hilal are preparing formal documents to be checked on Monday in order to get Neymar Jr deal done.

“Player already approved the move, two-year contract — lawyers will be on it.

“Al Hilal already booked medical tests; waiting for Ney’s camp final green light.”

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The news lands as a major disappointment to Barcelona, who had hoped to bring the forward back to Camp Nou as a replacement for Ousmane Dembele, who himself moved to PSG after the Ligue 1 side triggered a €50m release clause.

Neymar is set to leave for Al-Hilal for a fee “a little below €90m”, according to L’Equipe. The paper says that the Saudi Pro League side are just “one step away” from agreeing the deal with PSG for a player who arrived for a record €222m transfer fee.

The winger was told this week he was not in Luis Enrique’s plans for the club, but on Sunday found an agreement in principle to sign for Al-Hilal on a big money deal.

L'Equipe's front page today:

Mbappe IN, Neymar OUT at PSG pic.twitter.com/D2YwPvy9ad
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) August 14, 2023

Neymar to earn more than Ronaldo?

Neymar’s wage is set to eclipse that of Cristiano Ronaldo, L’Equipe adds.

“Some sources familiar with the matter speak of negotiations that will ensure him a total income higher than that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr (the Portuguese receives 100 M€ in salary + 100 M€ in partnerships for each season),” it is stated.

He presently earns an estimated €30m per year after tax at PSG.

Furthermore, Neymar reportedly has the ambition to return to Europe in one or two years, suggesting that his dream reunion with Barcelona is not dead, just delayed.