BARCELONA, Spain – Neymar completed his transfer to Barcelona 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 No. 11 and "Neymar Jr" on the back.
Barcelona vice president Josep Bartomeu said that the transfer cost Barcelona 57 million euros ($74 million), to be split among Santos and three other companies that own shares of 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.
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