Football Leaks, the website that has many clubs and agents in football wound up, has probably leaked the most anticipated contract ever. Barcelona forward Neymar signed for the club in 2013 and the Brazilian has faced many a legal battle including tax fraud, for the very contract that Football Leaks has leaked.
The contract was drawn up in June 2013 and ratified a month later, bears the signatures of Neymar Jr. and his father Neymar Sr., who also acts as his agent. Barcelona Presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell are also signatories, which is why they have been primarily called as witnesses in the legal cases surrounding this contract.
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The major revelation from the contract is that Neymar’s release fee is set at a staggering €190 million, which was obviously set to deter other clubs from activating the clause, but that has not stopped cash-rich PSG from considering a bid.
Neymar, whose contract runs until June 2018, also received a huge signing on fee of €8.5 million, which is rather unusual, save for players who are out of contract and can command a huge bonus fee for signing on, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer.
Neymar’s salary includes huge performance-based incentives
Neymar earns a minimum salary of €5 million annually, although there are numerous incentives and bonuses, included a €1.7 million bonus for winning the treble, although Barcelona’s latest slip up against Real Sociedad might put that in jeopardy. In addition, with Neymar being tipped to be a future Ballon d’Or winner by many, the Brazilian stands to earn €425,000
When all is said and done, Neymar has to be paid a minimum of 45.9 million over 5 years, even if he does not raise that much through incentives.
The most curious clause that is perhaps included in Neymar’s contract is that Barcelona have inserted a clause that requires Neymar to ‘integrate’ into Catalan society, while aascribing to Catalan cultures and values, and must make an effort to learn Catalan, which is rather interesting given that so many foreign imports to European leagues fail to learn the local language.
Neymar is amidst contract negotiations with Barcelona, despite his contract ending two years later in June, which has led to a host of clubs making enquiries for Neymar.
