Move over Paul Pogba, Neymar is here.The Manchester United midfielder has lost his title as football’s most expensive player after Neymar secured his €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday.The Brazilian has signed a five-year contract at the Parc des Princes and will be unveiled on Friday.Neymar said goodbye to Barcelona in an emotional video on Instagram, telling his 79 million followers: “An athlete needs challenges and for the second time in my life I will contradict my father.”The 25-year-old also reserved special praise with Lionel Messi, whom he formed an incredible partnership with at the Camp Nou.
Watch: Neymar says goodbye to Barça
“I am sure I will never see another one like him while I'm alive,” Neymar added. “Leo Messi became my friend in and out of the pitch. It was an honour to play with you.
“I made a trio with Messi and Suarez that made history, conquered everything an athlete can conquer, lived unforgettable moments, lived in a city that is more than a city, it is a homeland.
“I love Barcelona and Catalonia.”
MSN is no more
MSN - the acronym for Messi, Suarez and Neymar - scored a whopping 364 goals and provided 173 assists in just three seasons together.
But arguably the finest attacking trio the world has ever seen is no more.
Barcelona now have €222m to find Neymar’s replacement, and he could well come in the form of Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele.
Team Messi react to Neymar on Twitter
Messi posted a lovely tribute on Instagram to Neymar but the Adidas Twitter page dedicated to the Argentinian has sought to remind everyone that Messi was the number one man at the Camp Nou, never Neymar, and that he is still around.
The account, called Team Messi describes itself as “a global fan movement founded by Adidas to celebrate everything Messi”.
It posted a powerful tweet after Neymar’s move which you can see below.
“Times change. The greatest remains,” the post reads, with a picture of Messi.
Barça will sign a replacement
Indeed, Neymar’s exit is bad news for Barcelona considering his enormous talent and his age.
But with Messi still present, they will certainly be a force this season.
And Valverde has plenty of time in the summer to sign Neymar’s replacement.
Dembele, 20, seems like a natural successor and there are plenty who believe the Frenchman can become an even better player than Neymar.
The Blaugrana have also been linked with Juventus’s Paulo Dybala, Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool and AS Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe.
Expect Barça to make a huge signing in the coming weeks.