According to a recent report by the Daily Express, an unexpected release clause has been revealed in Brazilian superstar Neymar’s Paris Saint-Germain contract, thereby putting Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona on red alert. The report suggests that this release clause will allow the aforementioned suitors to move for him in the summer, with no interference from the chiefs at the Parisian club.
What Does This Contractual Clause Actually Mean?
As suggested in the report, FIFA’s Regulations on Status and Transfer of Players has a special guideline which describes a phenomenon known simply as ‘protection period’. Effectively, the clause permits players who signed their contract while under the age of 28, and have already played out a three year period at the club, to hand in their papers and walk away from the side.
Had the Brazilian taken the option of leaving during his protection period, he would’ve probably been handed a massive ban as well as hefty fines. Moreover, the sheer number of lawsuits that a corporate brand like PSG would be able to file against an individual like Neymar could’ve spelt the end of his career as well. Also, any club that did take the risk and move for him would’ve had to face a whopping two window player registration ban too.
Given that Neymar signed his PSG contract in August 2017 and that there have been no further contract renewals on his end, the Brazilian would essentially have the option of buying himself out at the end of the season. Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo are claiming that the compensation amount in question would be in the region of £157m – quite a lot less than the French giants initially paid for him in the summer of 2017.
What Is Neymar’s Current Footballing Situation In Paris?
The prolific attacker joined the Parisian club with inexplicably humongous expectations already placed on his shoulders, even before he attended the first training session. Although it’s safe to say that the Brazilian has since gone on to score some significant goals, some untimely injuries have hurt his consistency at the Parc De Princes. The former Barcelona man’s 15 Ligue 1 appearances have yielded 13 goals and six assists this season. At the same time, he’s picked up an overall tally of 67 goals and 39 assists from 78 fixtures since his switch across Europe to the French capital.
Why Real Madrid Must Beat Barcelona To Neymar’s Signature This Summer
Los Blancos haven’t been moving in the right direction over the last couple of years. Despite the summer acquisition of Belgian superstar Eden Hazard, comfortable wins have been hard to come by for Zidane’s side. While the whole world is aware of the fact that replacing a player like Cristiano Ronaldo was never going to be an easy task, the combination play of the Hazard with Neymar could be able to replicate that magic to a certain extent at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane is known for preferring to utilise the flanks to make his attacking advances, and that’s one of the main reasons why Neymar would be a stellar signing for Los Blancos. The tricky winger offers a wide variety of attributes – all of which will go a long way towards carrying this Madrid side back to the top of the pile in Europe. A naturally talented finisher as well, the Brazilian could be viewed as the long term successor to the dwindling Gareth Bale.
Lionel Messi is 32 now, and Suarez 33. While there’s little doubt about the quality that these players possess, their longevity will surely be a concern for a youthful player like Neymar. When Neymar turns 30, the other two Barcelona attackers will already be at the wrong end of their thirties. At Madrid though, Eden Hazard, like Neymar is still very much in his prime, and playing in the same team as the Belgian could turn out to be too much for the Brazilian trickster to eventually pass up on this summer.
