Neymar completed his transfer to Barcelona on Monday in a deal that unites the Brazilian star with Lionel Messi in what should be a formidable attacking partnership.
Neymar signed a five-year contract with club president Sandro Rosell after choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid.
The 21-year-old jogged onto the Camp Nou field for the first time in his new Barcelona jersey with “Neymar Jr” on the back.
“I am very happy, very moved to be a Barcelona player and fulfill my dream,” Neymar told the crowd of 56,500 that welcomed him. “I have come to add my part so that Lionel Messi continues to be the best player in the world.”
Barcelona vice president Josep Bartomeu said that the transfer cost Barcelona US$74 million, to be split among Santos and three other companies that own shares of the player’s rights. Bartomeu said the club had expected to pay about 40 million euros, but that “the interference of other clubs” inflated the price, an allusion to Real Madrid.
Barcelona’s most expensive transfer had been for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2009, when it gave Inter Milan US$64 million plus forward Samuel Eto’o.