The details of what Neymar was paid in his first year at Paris Saint-Germain have been revealed, and the figures are astonishing.
According to a report to which MARCA has had access, the Brazilian forward received an eye-watering 400 million euros during his first season in France thanks to numerous commercial contracts and the impact he had worldwide when moving to Paris.
The sum revealed in a report by El Mundo has been defended by PSG, insisting that signing the player was an investment.
“We’ll make more money from Neymar than we’ve spent,” said club president Nasser Al Khelaifi the day he was presented as a new signing.
The official club shop had brought in over half a million euros in the two hours after his shirt was released for sale.
The club also insist that without the presence of Neymar, they wouldn’t have been able to strike lucrative deals with Italian brand Replay or Nike Jordan. The club’s social media following also skyrocketed.
TV audiences increased by 25 percent in his first season in France and Disney Channel have also announced they’ve bought the rights to show Ligue 1 matches in Brazil, which are broadcast through ESPN and Fox Sports.
“Neymar’s arrival undoubtedly gave PSG and the French league another dimension,” said Yoann Godin, the director of international development for Ligue 1.
“His first match is one of the most-watched in football history”.
Those in Paris say that his arrival made PSG the second-most profitable club in the world, citing a Deloitte study which puts them amongst the top five most powerful clubs on the planet.
Messi wouldn’t have come if it were not for Neymar
There are many who also insist that Neymar’s ex-Barcelona teammate and close friend Lionel Messi wouldn’t have made the move to France if the Brazilian wasn’t at PSG.
