French President, Macron Responds to Neymar's Big Money Move to France

French President Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday congratulated the president of Paris St Germain on the soccer club's hotly anticipated world-record signing of Brazilian star Neymar. "Congratulations! I understand there's good news," Macron said to Nasser al-Khelaifi, PSG's Qatari chairman during a joint visit to a children's holiday camp outside Paris. Khelaifi responded with a smile. “It adds attractiveness. Yes, it’s good news,” Macron was also reported to have told journalists at the same spot.

Neymar's 222 million euros ($263 million) transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain is set to be completed this week. Macron was speaking shortly before Spain’s La Liga refused to accept payment of Neymar’s 222 million euro ($260 million) buyout clause, potentially delaying his world record move from Barcelona. La Liga chief Javier Tebas said this week he would block the transfer because it infringed UEFA’s financial fair play rules.