Neymar has not finished with Paris SG: the superstar extended Saturday by three years, until 2025, his XXL contract binding him with the club in the French capital.

"PSG are happy to announce the extension of Neymar's contract for three more seasons. The 29-year-old Brazilian is now linked with the capital club until June 30, 2025.", announced the Parisian club in a tweet. 

@PSG_inside is happy to announce @neymarjr's contract extension for three more seasons.

The 29-year-old Brazilian is now linked with the capital club until June 30, 2025.



🤙❤️💙 # NeymarJr2025

- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 8, 2021

"The center of gravity of our ambitious project to grow PSG lies in the heart, talent and total involvement of our players," said Parisian President Nasser Al-KhelaĂŻfi, quoted in the club's press release. formalizing the extension of the Brazilian.

🤙❤️💙 # NeymarJr2025 pic.twitter.com/nNKvR52c4O

- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 8, 2021

Despite many reassuring statements for several months, supporters were starting to get impatient, the white smoke was slow to come out of the PSG headquarters.

The formalization finally came four days after the bitter elimination against Manchester City in the semifinals of the C1.

The signing of the 29-year-old former Barcelona allows the club to continue dreaming of its first Champions League, a priority objective for Neymar, bought at a gold price in 2017, 222 million euros, with this in mind. .

Without this C1 so desired, both parties keep the impression of not having gone to the end of their story.

"He is the flagship of the project. He is a natural leader," his teammate Ander Herrera told a Spanish radio station in February.

"Here I have grown as a person, as a human being and as a player, too. So I am very happy to extend and hope to win many more trophies here," the Brazilian commented on Saturday. , who based his decision to stay as much on sporting as personal and financial choices.

Annual salary of 36 million euros

This season has offered a digest of his first three years in Paris: numerous absences (more than half of the Championship matches) due to injuries or suspensions, saving inspirations such as his double at Old Trafford to beat Manchester United (3- 1) during the group stage of the Champions League, and disappointments like against Manchester City this week in the semi-final second leg.

First, there is the beautiful European course achieved this season, with the eliminations of FC Barcelona and then Bayern Munich which allowed PSG to reach the last four for the second year in a row.

After the final lost last August against the Bavarians (1-0), the Parisian club confirmed that it could claim this Grail, which Neymar also covets, crowned with FC Barcelona in 2015. "I am focused on winning the Champions League above all, because it could make a big difference in my life and my career. Later, to see that I won 1, 2, 3 or 4, that will be the most important ", a- he explains.

Then there is the happiness of Neymar, who has "never been so happy as this season".

Accomplice with Kylian MbappĂ©, at ease in a predominantly Spanish-speaking locker room, the Brazilian also appreciates the methods of the new coach Mauricio Pochettino, who arrived in January. 

"He is a very nice person, very happy. He gets along well with everyone, he is a phenomenon on the ground but also a top teammate," described the Parisian defender Juan Bernat in November.

Finally, there is the financial aspect, only PSG being able to continue to pay him an annual salary of 36 million euros, according to Football Leaks revelations, in a general context weighed down by the pandemic.

However, two years ago, seeing Neymar extend seemed unthinkable, after a summer that saw him want to return to FC Barcelona and alienate a majority of ultras.

Also in question, his many injuries, his healthy lifestyle pointed out, which, for a time, kept Neymar away from the Golden Ball, and the monsters Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo that he was supposed to compete with.

But the epic of the "Final 8" in Lisbon in 2020, where PSG reached their first C1 final, confirmed him in his leadership role, both on and off the pitch, where he appears all smiles. , often a portable speaker in one hand.

Mbappé and Messi files

Building a balanced workforce in which Neymar can shine will be the major project in the weeks to come for sporting director Leonardo.

First, there is the extension of Mbappé, whose contract expires in 2022, far from being settled.

Then that of the reinforcements, in defense, in the middle and why not in attack, where the name of Lionel Messi has been coming back for several months.

Neymar has never hidden his desire to play again with the Argentine "Pulga". 

By extending the Brazilian, PSG offers itself the right to keep its wildest dreams.

With AFP

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