No release clause in Neymar's Paris Saint-Germain deal - lawyer
Posted Friday, January 19, 2018 by ESPN
Lawyer Marcos Motta, who handled the contracts for Neymar's world-record move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, has denied that the Brazil star's PSG deal contains a minimum fee release clause.
Neymar has been linked with Real Madrid since leaving the Camp Nou, with former Madrid president Ramon Calderon telling Le Parisien that "if there is no minimum fee release clause in Neymar's contract, PSG will not negotiate with Real."
But asked about Neymar's contract, Motta rejected Calderon's indication that a minimum fee release clause could exist.
He told Radio Globo: "In Neymar's contract, I can assure you that there is no minimum fee release clause -- only goals scored and top goal scorer."
On the subject of negotiations between PSG and Neymar last summer, Motta added: "Neymar's father sent me an SMS mid-July.
"It was to tell me to fly immediately to the U.S. to write up the contracts."
With no minimum release clause in Neymar's contract, PSG could demand a price far in excess of the €222 million they paid for him if they choose to sell.
Although common in Spain, minimum fee release clauses are prohibited in France.
There is nothing to stop a player and his agent from having a gentleman's agreement with their club about a potential exit, but no player in French professional football (Ligue 1 and Ligue 2) can have a minimum value written into their contract.
Neymar joined PSG in a world-record summer deal
Calderon had told Le Parisien he believes Madrid have serious designs on Neymar and intend to replace Cristiano Ronaldo with him, but developments would depend on the existence of a clause.
He claimed that "if Real have let this information filter out, then it is because they know that they can make this transfer happen, that Neymar has a minimum fee release clause in his contract, that they are able to pay it and that the player is interested in the idea of a move."
And he added: "To sign for Real is a dream for any player and Neymar, logically, must have a minimum fee release clause in his contract.
"It is feasible if the club has enough money and particularly if the player wants to come."
Meanwhile, speaking at the unveiling of his Neymar Junior's 5 football tournament, Neymar was cautious about the chances of Champions League success for PSG this season.
"It is difficult," he said. "It is too early to say. However, we will do our best.
"In every team, there are the big players who make a difference. We are the same with Kylian [Mbappe] and Edinson [Cavani].
"We getting to understand each other better and better and our relationship is improving.
"We hope to be capable of winning every title, particularly the Champions League."
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