SPORTS Friday, August 4, 2017 21 Top ten global transfers 1. 220m euros ($256.54m, £197.42m) -- 5. 90m euros -Gonzalo Higuain (ARG). Neymar (BRA). Barcelona (ESP) to Paris Napoli (ITA) to Juventus (ITA), 2016 Saint-Germain (FRA), 2017. (deal has yet 6. 88.2m euros -- Neymar (BRA). Santos to be finalised) (BRA) to Barcelona (ESP), 2013 2. 105m euros -- Paul Pogba (FRA). Juventus 7. 85m euros -- Romelu Lukaku (BEL). Everton (ITA) to Manchester United (ENG), 2016 (ENG) to Manchester United (ENG), 2017. Neymar free 3. 100.8m euros -- Gareth Bale (WAL). 8. 82.3m euros -- Luis Suarez (URU). Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) to Real Madrid Liverpool (ENG) to Barcelona (ESP), 2014. (ESP), 2013 9. 81.7m euros -- Alvaro Morata (ESP). Real 4. 94m euros -- Cristiano Ronaldo (POR). Madrid (ESP) to Chelsea (ENG), 2017 Manchester United (ENG) to Real Madrid 10. 79.8m euros -- James Rodriguez (COL). (ESP), 2009 Monaco (FRA) to Real Madrid (ESP), 2014 to complete Neymar deal ‘beyond rationality’ - Wenger recordon the club’s financesPSG over several years but the impact of London of football as a vessel for soft such an operation cannot be judged in advance, notably eymar’s imminent mega- diplomacy meant PSG’s owners as PSG could well sell several players for a significant transfer from Barcelona to did not need to worry about amount,” UEFA said in a statement. NParis Saint-Germain is “beyond whether the transfer represents Barca added that they will aid UEFA in any future calculation and rationality”, value for money. enquiry into whether the French side fall foul of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger “We are not in a period anymore regulations. said yesterday. where you think, in some places: “The club will pass on to UEFA the details of the above In a reference to PSG’s super- ‘If I invest that, I will get that Madridmove operation so that they can determine the disciplinary rich Qatari backers, Wenger back.’ We are beyond that,” said eymar’s world record move to Paris Saint-Germain is responsibilities that may arise from this case,” continued said the 222 million euros ($260 the Frenchman. set to be completed when the player jets into France the Barca statement. million) deal was a consequence “The number today involves Ntoday after the Brazilian paid his 222 million euro ($263.6 Neymar is due to arrive in Paris on Friday, according of what happens when “a country a lot of passion, pride, public million) buyout clause to Barcelona yesterday. to airport sources, and could be presented at PSG’s Ligue owns a club”. interest and you cannot rationalise Barca confirmed Neymar’s lawyers “made the payment 1 opener at home to Amiens on Saturday although he is “For me, it is the consequence that anymore.” of 222 million euros in the player’s name” to release unlikely to play. of the ownerships and that has Citing the 1979 transfer from him from the five-year contract he signed just His new mark is more than double the previous completely changed the whole Birmingham City to Nottingham last year. record set by Manchester United’s capture of Paul landscape of football in the last 15 Forest of Trevor Francis, who Earlier, Spain’s football league Pogba from Juventus last year for 105 million euros, years,” he told a press conference became Britain’s first £1 million threatened to stall the saga by leaving many commentators aghast at the rampant at the Emirates Stadium. “Once a ($1.3 million, 1.1 million euros) refusing to accept a cheque inflation in football transfer fees. country owns a club, everything is player, Wenger said fees were now presented by Neymar’s Leading coaches such as Arsenal’s Arsene possible. “It becomes very difficult out of control. representatives at its Madrid Wenger and Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho to respect the financial fair play “It also looks like the inflation is headquarters. lamented that the move could cause even greater because you can have different accelerating,” he said. La Liga president Javier Tebas inflation in transfer fees and player wages. ways or different interests for a “We crossed the 100 million has accused the French club of “It also looks like the inflation is accelerating,” country to have such a big player (euros) line last year (when Paul breaching UEFA’s financial fair said Wenger, whose 21 years at Arsenal have to represent a country. Pogba joined Manchester United play rules. been characterised by prudent spending. “It can’t justify the investments from Juventus) and, only one Clubs can be sanctioned by “It’s beyond calculation and beyond and looks unusual for the game.” year later, we’re crossing the 200 European football’s governing body for rationality.” Wenger said Qatar’s use million line. making a loss of more than 30 million euros over a three-year period. ‘Transfer of the century’ However, UEFA However, in the French capital there is huge insisted the move will excitement at PSG’s Qatari-backed project not automatically landing a star name to finally make them France ‘delighted’ at trigger a failure to feared among European football’s elite comply with FFP with even French president Emmanuel Neymar tax windfall regulations. Macron enthused. Paris in France.” “The “It adds attractiveness. Yes, it’s good rench Budget Minister Gerald Neymar was expected to arrive transfer of news,” said Macron. Darmanin said he would be in Paris within days to finalise Neymar to “Neymar to PSG -- the transfer of F“delighted” at the prospect of his world-record 222-million- PSG will the century”, splashed Le Parisien’s Neymar paying tax in France euro transfer ($260 million) from have an front page on Thursday with the first after his expected record-busting Barcelona to PSG. effect five pages devoted to his impending transfer to Paris Saint-Germain His wages will reportedly triple arrival. (PSG). to 30 million euros ($35.5 million) The mood is understandably “If in fact Neymar does come to a year after tax at PSG. more sombre in Barcelona a French club, the budget minister French tax specialist Michel where attention has turned to who will be delighted at the tax that Taly, of the Arsene Taxand law the Catalans can sign to replace he will be able to pay in France,” firm, said if that is the case then the Neymar in the Darmanin said on France Inter club would have to pay the French month before the radio. state a similar sum every year. transfer “It’s better for this player to pay “Whichever way you look at it, window his tax in France rather than pay it the state would receive more than closes. elsewhere,” Darmanin said. 30 million euros a year,” Taly said. “When you are a minister, your The sum would be split between duty is to defend the interests of 15 million euros in income tax on the state, and the interests of the the salary and 15 million euros in state are that people pay their tax social charges, he said. Neymar