Brazilian sports business consulting firm Pluri Consultoria has calculated that Neymar's market value has increased 22.6%, from €55M ($72M) to €67.4M ($88.2M), since his signing with Barcelona, according to the EFE. Pluri said, "The player transfer from Santos to Barcelona was decisive in this appreciation that, at 21 years old, transforms Neymar from a Brazilian football star into an international star." Neymar's value has benefited from "dividing his performances between one of the best club teams in the world (Barcelona) and one of the top national teams (Brazil)." The increase makes Neymar the third-most valuable football player in the world, behind Lionel Messi (€140M) ($183M) and Cristiano Ronaldo (€96.3M) ($126M). With Neymar's trade to Barcelona, he passed Barcelona player Andrés Iniesta and Wayne Rooney in market value. Pluri "calculates a footballer's market value based on 61 specific criterion, including age, creativity, physical strength, ability to define a game and championships won" (EFE, 6/5).
DIS GROUP UNHAPPY: The DIS Group, which owned 40% of Neymar's rights before the transfer, "has been left with a bitter taste in the mouth in light of the revelation" that the deal is worth €57M ($74.5M) in total and has threatened to report Barcelona to FIFA. DIS Group CEO Roberto Moreno said that "the company feels cheated and will look to claim what it believes it is due." Barcelona VP Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted that the club had made a €10M down payment, "something FIFA rules forbid when the player in question is under contract" (MARCA, 6/5).
NATIONAL TEAM NUMBER CHANGE: Neymar, whose jersey number with the Brazilian national team has typically been 11, wore 10 in a friendly on Sunday against England. The national team has announced its list of 23 players and the jerseys they will wear for the upcoming Confederations Cup, with Neymar set to wear No. 10. It is the same number that Pelé wore as a 17-year-old in the 1958 World Cup (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 6/5).
