Neymar Booed By Fans After Agreeing Deal To Join Barcelona From Santos
Neymar was booed by rival fans in his last appearance for Santos on Sunday, a day after confirming his move for an undisclosed fee to Barcelona next season.
Neymar failed to inspire his team in a goalless draw against Flamengo in their opening match of the Brazilian championship. The 21-year-old striker announced on Saturday he had picked Barça over Real Madrid and would be leaving Santos to sign a five-year deal with the Catalan club.
Many of the 63,500 spectators who filled Brasilia's Mané Garrincha National Stadium were Flamengo fans who booed Neymar when he gained possession of the ball and cheered when he lost it.
The striker with a mohican hairdo cried during the national anthem before the game, his last for the club that launched his career and where he became the top scorer since Pelé.
"It was an honour to have played for this marvellous team Santos. I am so happy I did," he told reporters.
"Every child has a dream, either to be a player, a dentist or a reporter. My dream was to become a professional athlete and I have achieved that. Today Barcelona is fulfilling my dream of going to a totally beautiful team," he told Globo TV.
Neymar does not know when he will travel to Barcelona but said he was excited at the prospect of playing alongside Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Dani Alves.
"The Santos fans are the only ones who have always supported me. I can only thank them and say 'see you later', because I will be back one day," Neymar said.
A Barcelona statement read: "FC Barcelona and Santos have agreed to terms for Neymar da Silva Santos Junior. The Brazilian forward will don the Blaugrana strip for the next five seasons. The 21-year old is one of the most promising footballers on the planet."
Neymar had been considering his future after Santos revealed on Saturday they had accepted two offers for their star player, with Barça confirmed as one of the bidders and Real Madrid widely assumed to be the other.
Neymar wrote on the web: "I'm here with friends and family and they have helped me to write a few things here. I'm not going to hold out until Monday. My family and friends already know my decision. On Monday I will sign a contract with Barcelona."
The forward's contract at Santos was due to expire at the end of next season and some reports had suggested an agreement with Barcelona was reached as much as a year ago.
Neymar wrote: "I want to thank the fans of Santos for these incredible nine years. My feeling for the club and the fans will never change. It is eternal! Only a club like Santos could give me everything I have experienced on and off the field. I thank the wonderful fans who supported me even in the most difficult moments. Titles, goals, dribbling, celebrations and songs that fans created for me will be forever in my heart...
"I made sure I could play the match in Brasilia. I want to have the opportunity to once again take the field and hear the crowd scream my name ... It is a strange time for me, sad and happy new challenge. May God bless me in my choices ... And I'm always a Santos fan."
In a statement, Santos said they had made every effort to keep hold of the player. "After refusing a offers of many millions for Neymar Jr since mid-2010, and implemented a career plan that allowed his historic stay in Brazil for several years, bucking the trend of Brazilian football to quickly sell its greatest talents, Santos finally agreed to sell.
"Every effort was made to keep him in Brazil as long as possible, even offering to renew the current contract, which ended in July 2014. At this time, however, it was not possible to compete with the terms offered from abroad, which affected the decision of the player to review his professional life.
"Due to the confidentiality agreement, and by mutual agreement, the terms of the transfer will not be disclosed by any of the parties."
