France legend Marcel Desailly gives ringing endorsement to Neymar's $263m earth-shattering move to PSG

Published on: 05 August 2017
France legend Marcel Desailly gives ringing endorsement to Neymar's $263m earth-shattering move to PSG
Brazilian superstar Neymar (R) poses with his jersey next to Paris Saint Germain's (PSG) Qatari president Nasser Al-Khelaifi during a press conference at the Parc des Princes stadium on August 4, 2017 in Paris after agreeing a five-year contract following his world record 222 million euro ($260 million) transfer from Barcelona to PSG.

Ghana-born former defender Marcel Desailly has given his ringing endorsement for Neymar's $263m world-record move to Paris St Germain insisting there is a 'price for talent'.

The former France captain has hailed the French side's smashing of the world transfer insisting the entire economic structure of the European country will benefit from the move following the arrival of the Brazilian  in the French top-flight.

The Qatari-owned PSG paid 222 million euros ($263 million) to take the Brazil striker from Barcelona to the French capital in a move that also appears to make little sense for the player from a footballing perspective.

The jaw-dropping deal has divided opinion in the world with fears the super rich clubs will collapse the game.

The move will likely kick-start a chain of money-spinning transfers which would keep club accountants busy among Europe's biggest clubs.

Neymar's big-money move to the French giants has been hugely criticized with suggestion it could lead to the collapse of smaller clubs.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticized the deal, saying its 'beyond calculation and rationality”and a consequence of what happens when “a country owns a club”.

But Chelsea legend Marcel Desailly has jumped to the defence of the Brazilian insisting there is a price for talent'.

"So happy about this transfer news. The business of sport and football is growing and everybody will benefit from it,' Desailly said when referring to Neymar's price in the PSG move.

"Let's have an open mind. Nothing comes for free in this world. There is a price for talent so let's enjoy the magic of this news .

"Taxi , hotels , traveling agencies , tax authorities , security companies, broadcasters, fans , merchandise sponsors, tourism will all benefit."

PSG activated a buy-out clause rather than a negotiate a typical transfer fee for Neymar and while fans of the French club will be delighted at signing one of the world's top players, the money invested in the Brazilian is unlikely to be recouped, it has been claimed.

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi says he is "not really worried at all" about potential Financial Fair Play sanctions after securing the €222 million signing of Neymar.

The French club had to pay Neymar's full buyout clause to secure his services from Barcelona, making the Brazilian the world's most expensive player by a wide margin.

PSG have faced questions about whether they can now adhere to UEFA's financial fair play rules, with La Liga president Javier Tebas saying he would file a complaint to the governing body and the EU over the transfer.

Watch the owner of PSG talk about Neymar's move to the club and world record

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