Neymar signs 5-year contract with Barcelona

Neymar became the eighth most expensive signing in football history by moving to Barcelona in a deal worth 57 million euros, uniting the Brazil star with Lionel Messi in a formidable attacking partnership.
Neymar signed a five-year contract with club president Sandro Rosell yesterday, after choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid in an intense two-year bidding war between the fierce Spanish rivals.
Barcelona vice president Josep Bartomeu revealed the club had expected to pay about 40 million euros, but that "the interference of other clubs" inflated the price, an allusion to Madrid.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Luis Figo, Hulk and Fernando Torres have cost a club more than Neymar.

Barcelona's previous most expensive transfer was when it paid 45 million euros to Inter Milan for Ibrahimovic in 2009 plus sent striker Samuel Eto'o the other way.
Neymar laughed shyly when asked if he was worth the price paid for him.

"No, but I am very grateful that Barcelona did what it had to do complete my childhood, to be with my idols," he said.
Formalities done after signing his contract, the 21-year-old striker jogged onto the Camp Nou pitch for the first time in his new Barcelona kit bearing the name "Neymar Jr" on the back.
"I am very happy, very moved to be a Barcelona player and fulfill my dream," Neymar told the tens of thousands of fans who turned out to welcome him.