International Football
Barcelona Unwilling to Pay €26m to Neymar’s Father
The news is all over France that in the next couple of hours, the player who has made the most news in the current summer transfer window, Neymar Jr will be a player of Paris Saint-German. On the other hand in Barcelona, FC Barcelona’s players are reportedly fed up with the Neymar saga.
Sports Village Square reliably gather from Spanish publication, Marca, that FC Barcelona is doing everything possible to avoid paying the player’s father the 26 million euro that was agreed last year as part of a renewal premium.
Sports Village Square had earlier reported that Neymar Jr had deliberately avoided making his stand known in the transfer saga to enable his father collect the money from the club he is leaving while almost instantly his father, who has been promised a lucrative ambassadorial role for the Qatar 2022 World Cup by the Qatari current owners of Paris Saint-Germain, will also pocket another 32 million euro making a total of €62 million bounty harvest. .
FC Barcelona, according to Marca, will still deposit the €36 million in a notary’s office to be paid only if Neymar stays. The payment of the money is what is likely to delay Neymar Jr imminent departure from Barcelona.
The Neymar transfer operation has become more and more bitter as the days have passed, and even journalists are beginning to get fed up with the lack of concrete information being passed to them.
“At least be polite,” was the only message given to members of the media that had gathered at Barcelona airport on Sunday. The father and representative of the striker from São Paulo landed with a tired face after a direct flight from Miami.
“He had not spoken in America about his son’s future and was not going to do it back to Barcelona either. Better to keep his mouth shut to focus on the final phase of what will be the transfer of summer”, is account given by the Spanish Marca.
A transfer that promises to deliver more than 200m Euros into Barcelona’s coffers, a record in the history of football. No agent has had more influence on a player’s career than Neymar’s father.
FC Barcelona have also had to pay him €2.7millon in commission, €10m of the initial transfer premium and other amounts (to distribute over five years) for publicity, to promote social media and to look for talents in Brazil. Negotiating the payment method with the agreement for Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar Da Silva still wants to ensure he receives the 26m Euros he agreed to renew his son with Barcelona.
This agreement was based on the pressure that PSG exercised last year, and it was designed to stop them getting Neymar this time last summer. He could use an agreement between clubs, but that seems complicated without Marco Verratti entering the equation. Meanwhile, Nasser Al-Khelaifi expressed optimism to the club’s executives.”Neymar’s signing is going well, I have confidence,” he is to have said, according to Yahoo Sports France.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles put up a spirited performance but were edged 2-1 by Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The match served as Portugal’s final tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and offered the Nigerians a chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s leading sides led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto broke the deadlock, firing past Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after a lively opening period in which both teams created opportunities.
The Super Eagles responded positively and were rewarded eight minutes before halftime when striker Akor Adams found the equaliser. The goal capped an impressive Nigerian fightback and ensured the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Ronaldo, making a rare appearance against Nigeria, started the match and remained on the pitch until the 67th minute. The 41-year-old was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos.
Portugal made several changes after the interval as coach Roberto Martinez rotated his squad in preparation for the World Cup. Despite the substitutions, the hosts continued to press for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Francisco Conceição struck the decisive goal, restoring Portugal’s lead and ultimately securing victory for the European side.
Nigeria battled to find another equaliser in the closing stages but Portugal’s defence held firm to preserve the 2-1 result.
The defeat means Portugal have now won both meetings between the two countries. Their first encounter came in Lisbon in November 2022, when the Portuguese recorded a convincing 4-0 victory in a pre-World Cup friendly.
While the result will disappoint Nigerian supporters, the Super Eagles can take encouragement from their resilient display against one of the teams widely tipped to make a strong impact at the World Cup. Akor Adams’ goal and Nigeria’s competitive showing against a star-studded Portuguese side provided positive signs as the team continues its rebuilding process under the national team set-up.
For Portugal, the victory provides a confidence boost as they head to North America, where they hope their talented midfield and experienced squad can propel them to a successful World Cup campaign.
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the starting line-up when the Selecao take on Nigeria in an international friendly match which kicks off in a few minutes tonight.
The 41-year-old forward, who remains a key figure in the Portuguese national team, has been named among the starters as Portugal continue preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ronaldo’s inclusion is expected to add further excitement to the encounter, with Nigerian fans eager to see one of football’s greatest players in action against the Super Eagles.
The match offers Nigeria another opportunity to test themselves against top European opposition, while Portugal will look to sharpen their squad ahead of future international assignments.
Kick-off is scheduled for later tonight, with both teams expected to field strong line-ups in what promises to be an entertaining contest.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal will meet for only the second time at the senior level when they clash in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The encounter comes under remarkably similar circumstances to their first meeting in November 2022, when Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in Lisbon just days before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Once again, Portugal are using Nigeria as their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Four years ago, the Portuguese selected the Super Eagles to prepare for a group-stage clash against Ghana, the team that denied Nigeria a place at Qatar 2022.
History appears to be repeating itself. This time, Portugal are preparing for a World Cup opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo, another team that shattered Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions by eliminating the Super Eagles from the qualification race.
The match at the 29,000-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa offers Nigeria an opportunity to avenge the heavy defeat suffered four years ago and test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has assembled a star-studded squad featuring five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rafael Leão and João Félix.
The Portuguese head into the encounter unbeaten in their last four matches, having recorded victories over the United States and Chile while drawing with Mexico.
Nigeria, under coach Eric Chelle, have also enjoyed an impressive run. Since taking charge 15 months ago, the Franco-Malian tactician has overseen 24 matches and suffered only one defeat in regulation time.
With both teams carrying impressive recent records, Wednesday’s friendly promises to be far more competitive than the scoreline from their last meeting suggests.
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