The world-record transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris St Germain has hit a snag after La Liga refused to accept the release clause for the striker.
Barcelona said they would only allow the 25-year-old to make the staggering switch if his buy-out clause of €222million (£198.5million) was met and paid in full.
There is a hitch in the deal, because lawyers for the player were turned away on Thursday morning when they arrived at the offices of La Liga to pay the money required.
“We can confirm that the player’s lawyers came to the La Liga offices this morning to deposit the clause and that it has been rejected. That’s all the information we are giving out at this moment,” a statement from La Liga read.
It now remains to be seen what the next step in this most astronomical of transfers will be, with a league body intervening almost unheard of.
Despite needing to post the record amount in full, PSG are reportedly unfazed by such a demand after Neymar indicated his willingness to depart the Nou Camp on Wednesday.
Reports in France had suggested a five-year contract to bring Neymar to Ligue 1 could be finalised this week, and French newspaper Le Parisien claimed the 25-year-old is set to earn 30 million euros (£27million) net per year, or close to €600,000 (£540,000) each week after tax.
The eye-watering fee alone would obliterate the current record of €105m, worth £89million at the time, which Manchester United paid Juventus for Paul Pogba last summer.
