Neymar's £198m move to Paris Saint-Germain has eclipsed the world transfer record... here's how it has evolved over the past 20 years
- Neymar has joined Paris Saint-Germain in a world record £198million move
- The move would almost double Paul Pogba's existing world transfer record
- Sportsmail runs down the evolution of the record over the past 20 years
It looks like Neymar is no more, at Barcelona at least.
The
Brazilian has completed his move to French giants Paris Saint-Germain
for a world record transfer fee of £198million. He's also said to be
earning more than £500,000-per-week.
The
deal blows the previous record, Paul Pogba's £89million switch to
Manchester United, out of the water by more than £100million.
Neymar is now the most expensive player in the history of football following his £196m move
MSN is no more - the successful trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez has split up
Given the size of the deal it's easy
to forget how far the record has come since transfer fees became the
norm; just 20 years ago the biggest fee ever paid was still below
£20million.
Sportsmail looks back at the last 10 times the transfer record has been broken.
Neymar has joined his fellow Brazilian Dani Alves at the Ligue 1 side for a world record fee
August 9, 2016 - Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United, £89m)
Having
left United for nothing during the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson, the
French midfielder returned to Old Trafford in a Stormzy of publicity as
the grime star reintroduced him to Red Devils fans with a viral social
media video.
The overall price, with add-ons and agents' fees taken into account, will rise to £100m.
Pogba's arrival at Manchester United was marked by a viral social media video
September 1, 2013 - Gareth Bale (Tottenham to Real Madrid, £85m)
The
Welshman agreed a £300,000-per-week deal to swap north London for the
Spanish capital, saying it was 'the right time to say goodbye' to Spurs.
The transfer generated a £75m profit for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who bought Bale for £10m six years previously.
Spendaholic Real president Florentino Perez poses with Gareth Bale after buying him for £85m
July 6, 2009 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United to Real Madrid, £80m)
It was the deal that shook football, raising the transfer record by almost 50 per cent in a single swoop.
Ronaldo was greeted at the Bernabeu by 80,000 delirious fans and quickly declared: 'This is a spectacular day'.
Cristiano Ronaldo cost Madrid £80m when he moved from Manchester United in 2009
June 9, 2009 - Kaka (AC Milan to Real Madrid, £56m)
It
didn't last for long, but for a while the elegant Brazilian was the
world's most expensive player. Kaka signed an £8m-a-year contract at
Real, leaving Milan to lament their loss with a truly exceptional
statement.
'The loss technique, while
serious, can be remedied. It will be very difficult to fill the void
that will be left by Kaka, a shining example of professionalism,
commitment and professionalism,' it read.
'AC
Milan, (according to) the wishes of the managers, players and
supporters of the Rossoneri, offer him the most cordial and affectionate
wishes for the continuation of his sporting career.'
Kaka held the world record for less than a month after joining Real from AC Milan
July 10, 2001 - Zinedine Zidane (Juventus to Real Madrid, £45m)
FIFA
had only just resolved to introduce new transfer rules which would have
allowed Zidane to move for a free (what ever happened to them?) when
the star man from France 98 and Euro 2000 relocated to Spain.
Zidane
would collect £3.5m a year at Madrid. He said: 'A while back I said the
amount of money was enormous and that I was not worth that much.
'It
is indeed a lot of money. I am fully aware of that and my thoughts on
the matter have not changed. A new challenge is at hand. I was really in
need of something different. Things came into focus today.'
Zinedine Zidane cost Real Madrid £45m when he moved from Juventus in the summer of 2001
July 24, 2000 - Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid, £37m)
Uh
oh. Barca to Real. Luis Figo was one brave man. Florentino Perez built
his presidential campaign on the promise to sign the Portuguese, going
so far as to commit to paying for every Madrid fan's subscription if he
failed to land his man.
So it was just as well he did. Though the whole process left Perez's Barcelona counterpart Joan Gaspart incredulous.
'I'll not forget this. Whoever is responsible for this will pay for it. We'll see how and when,' he said. We're still waiting.
Luis Figo caused controversy when he swapped Barcelona for fierce rivals Real
July 13, 2000 - Hernan Crespo (Parma to Lazio, £36m)
Another
man who barely held the record long enough to take a picture with it,
Argentinian striker Crespo appeared to have been the subject in the
fastest-moving transfer of all time.
On
the Tuesday, 24 hours before he signed, he told reporters: 'I am amazed
at this news. I have not signed anything and have no idea at what stage
the negotiations are.'
Thanks for that, Hernan.
Hernan Crespo poses for the camera after undergoing his Lazio medical in 2000
June 8, 1999 - Christian Vieri (Lazio to Inter Milan, £28m)
Vieri
made a happy habit of being incredibly expensive. The Italian striker's
San Siro switch ensured he had three entries in the top-10 dearest
transfers of all time (at the point of his departure from Lazio).
These were the days before the Euro, of course. In old money, Vieri set Inter back 80billion lire. Yikes.
Christian Vieri cost Inter Milan a whopping 80billion lire when he arrived from Lazio
August 27, 1998 - Denilson (Sao Paulo to Real Betis, £22m)
Hold up. Real Betis? £22million? What the?
Yep,
it happened. Back in '98, Brazilian whizkid Denilson left his home
country for the Seville on a quite ridiculous 11-YEAR contract. To make
it all that bit more whacky, a £260m buyout clause was inserted into the
deal.
By 2006, the forward was on trial at Portsmouth. Oof.
Denilson signed an 11-year contract at Real Betis when he signed for the Sevilla club in 1998
June 20, 1997 - Ronaldo (Barcelona to Inter Milan, £19.5m)
After
47 goals in 49 games for Barca, the original Ronaldo fell out with the
Catalans just as they were willing to tie him to a 10-year deal.
In
stepped Inter president Massimo Moratti. 'It was a whim of mine,'
Moratti recalled recently. 'When you a buy a club you dream of something
exceptional, even at the expense of perfect administration.'
A £19.5m whim.
Ronaldo joined Inter Milan in 1997 after falling out with former club Barcelona
