This archive report was first published on 3 September 2019.
September 3, 2019, marked the end of a lengthy transfer saga surrounding Neymar, the world's most expensive player, who will remain at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after his former club Barcelona failed to secure his return.
Barcelona's inability to complete the deal was despite Neymar's determination to return to his former club, with sports daily L'Equipe reporting that he offered to pay 20 million euros ($22 million) from his own pocket towards the fee.
PSG had paid 222 million euros ($264 million at the time) for Neymar's services in 2017, committing to reported wages of 36 million euros a year.
However, Neymar's time at PSG has been marred by injuries and off-field distractions, with the player appearing in barely half of his club's matches since joining the Parc des Princes.
When he has played, Neymar has been brilliant, scoring 51 goals in 58 games and winning back-to-back league titles and one Ligue 1 player of the year award.
However, the Champions League is what really matters, and when it has really mattered in Europe, Neymar has been absent, missing three of the four Champions League knockout matches the club have played since his arrival.
Champions League Absence ¶
Without Neymar, PSG lost in the last 16 to Real Madrid in 2018 and then to Manchester United this year.
He has also missed several key matches due to injuries, including a broken foot that kept him out for the rest of the 2017-2018 season and a similar injury that kept him out for three months this year.
Neymar has been accused of raping a Brazilian woman at a Paris hotel in May, but the case was dismissed in August by a Brazilian judge.
Commercial Value ¶
Despite the controversy surrounding him, Neymar remains one of the biggest sporting celebrities on the planet, and his commercial value is still significant.
PSG's president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, has spoken of the club's association with the Neymar brand, and they have signed major sponsorship and endorsement deals with the likes of Nike.
French sports marketing specialist Jerome Neveu told AFP that PSG's association with Neymar has brought a big media profile to the club, helping them develop.
Now, all eyes will be on Neymar to see if he can put this episode to bed and deliver on the pitch, although his three-game Champions League suspension means it may be some time yet before he makes any genuine impact.
