Neymar's ex-agent talks about the stunning $240m cheque from PSG

The French club had made history by making the forward the most expensive player in world football.

Paris Saint-Germain had agreed to pay $240 million to Barcelona to acquire Neymar Jr., the Brazilian star, in 2017, which saw them revolutionise football transfers.

This transfer cost has never been surpassed, and it increased the generally acknowledged maximum value of a football player. Transfers of more than $100 million have become commonplace since that move, although previously, they were uncommon.

Now, clubs break the bank for fun to bring a quality player, making it a very normal activity in the modern transfer window.

It was an obvious indication of PSG and the Qatari ownership’s intentions. They were willing to pay more than anyone had ever paid for the world’s top players because they wanted them.

Wagner Ribeiro, Neymar’s agent at the time, recounted the ecstatic thrill of seeing the check that PSG had written in an interview with Complément d’enquête.

”It was an unforgettable cheque. We even took a photo of it – €220m! [$240m] There won’t be any other transfers of this magnitude. It came from the Qatari bank and was written in Arabic. I didn’t understand all of it but I will never forget the figure. It was almost unreal.”

Naturally, when Neymar joined PSG, his pay increased significantly. PSG were determined to win the UEFA Champions League, which Ribeiro acknowledged the team was unable to accomplish with Neymar on the roster.

”Neymar went from a salary of €25m [$27m] at Barça to €40m [$43m] at PSG. Nasser spent without counting because he absolutely wanted the title [Champions League]. With them, there are no limits: when they want something, they get it.”

Before moving to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia for $97.3 million in 2023, Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles with PSG. Neymar has now returned to Santos in the January transfer window. He has already made a mark at the Brazilian club as he hopes to get back to his best form before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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