Neymar PSG transfer news: Paris-Saint Germain debut set after Barcelona transfer

NEYMAR is expected to make his much-awaited debut for Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday in the small Brittany town of Guingamp after French football authorities finally received his international transfer certificate.

The French Football Federation received the document from its Spanish counterpart on Friday, more than a week after PSG signed the Brazilian from Barcelona.
The French football league then told The Associated Press the ITC was submitted by the federation, and Neymar’s transfer would be ratified later Friday, clearing the way for him to play at Guingamp on Sunday.
The holdup prevented Neymar from making his PSG debut last Saturday against Amiens after completing his world-record 222 million euros ($262 million) transfer.
PSG wanted Neymar to start the season at its Parc des Princes home but his debut was delayed because of the paperwork issues. Neymar was unveiled to the PSG fans on Saturday but could only watch from the stands as his new team started its league campaign with a 2-0 win.
Barcelona said there was nothing strange about the situation and the wait was due to the banks.
Just a few hours before the French federation said it had received the ITC, the 222 million euros was made available in Barcelona’s accounts.
Barcelona denied speculation that slowed down the process in retaliation for PSG luring one of its biggest stars out of the Camp Nou. Barcelona said it had been waiting on the banks to complete the transaction for the massive amount of money.
PSG coach Unai Emery has yet to announce his squad for the trip to Guingamp, but wants Neymar to be playing.
“We all want him to start playing,” Emery told a news conference on Friday.
“We want him in the squad, and in the starting 11. He has trained well, and we have also worked on tactical aspects and set pieces. He is ready.”

NEYMAR OFFERS TO PAY $2.5 MILLION FINE TO BRAZIL TAX AUTHORITIES
Neymar is willing to pay a fine of $2.5 million to settle tax evasion allegations in his country, his lawyer said Friday.
The 25-year-old wants to leave the fight with Brazilian authorities behind him as he prepares for a new professional life with PSG, Neymar’s lawyer Marcos Neder told a press conference.
“This process has stretched on for more than three years and our goal is to move ahead with the new phase that Neymar has begun,” Neder said.
In September 2015, Brazilian tax authorities seized what was then the equivalent of $55.7 million in Neymar’s assets to cover what they said were unpaid taxes from 2011 to 2013, plus penalties and interest.
The case has been snaking its way through the courts ever since. Neymar has scored some victories such as having the amount of seized assets reduced.
However it is now up to tax authorities to decide whether they accept the amount that Neymar’s defense team has calculated that he owes.
Neymar also faces corruption charges in Spain stemming from his transfer to Barcelona from the Brazilian team Santos in 2013.