#Qatari Club

[whitehartlane]

minjae to bayern, the fans don’t deserve him but take care of my jeonbuk boy 👍🏾

[imagineyneyjr]

Not Busi😭😭😭😭

[uniteds]

stuff that happened in the 2022/2023 football season that should send us into a coma but we’re too desensitized:

1. the whole ass world cup in the middle of the season. what was that

2. manchester united sacking ronaldo and announcing a sale of the club in the middle of the world cup

3. ronaldo getting dropped at the world cup and his replacement scoring a hattrick immediately after

4. keeping up with the belgians (world cup edition)

5. keeping up with the belgians (courtois saying he doesn’t respect kdb after stealing his missus)

6. ronaldo stans beefing with a little moroccan girl

7. the kingdom of saudi arabia buying newcastle united and then telling the premier league that they didn’t and the premier league going “oh okay if you say so”

8. megan thee stallion being romelu lukaku’s date to lautaro martinez’s wedding

9. pique cheating on shakira and then shakira releasing a diss track about it

10. shakira figuring out pique cheated on her because someone ate her strawberry jam and pique doesn’t eat strawberry jam

11. apparently the girl pique cheated on shakira with (clara) cheating on pique with pep

12. wagatha christie libel case

13. real madrid dropping a video accusing barcelona of fascism and the government of cataluyna getting involved

14. the pope coming out as a manchester united fan

15. the one napoli fan that basically made zielinski strip on the pitch

16. mount vesuvius park shutting down because napoli fans wanted to fake an eruption as a celebration

17. frank lampard taking everton into a relegation battle, getting sacked, and then taking chelsea into a relegation battle

18. on that note: chelsea were in a relegation scrap and finished 12th

19. mourinho lost his first ever european final to sevilla europa league black magic

20. whatever the fuck borussia dortmund did on the last day of the bundesliga season

21. anthony martial’s ex wife chasing his first wife down a french motorway with a baby in the passenger seat

22. psg suspending messi because he took an unsanctioned trip to saudi arabia and then unsuspending him two days later because they didn’t want people talking about geopolitics

23. the absolutely bizarre messi apology video released by psg

24. spurs refunding their fans’ tickets after being embarrassing

25. pep’s heartbreak over the fact julia roberts is a manchester united fan

26. chelsea scored one goal in the month of april

27. chelsea and spurs had six managers between them and won one match combined between march and april

28. mourinho fighting anthony taylor after the europa league final

29. milan derby in the ucl for the first time since 2005

30. luis enrique saying he’s cool with the spanish players having sex during the world cup as long as they’re not having orgies

31. luis enrique saying he doesn’t have sex anymore unless his wife wants to

32. man city charged with 115 counts of financial doping and trying to get the barrister in charge disqualified because he’s an arsenal fan

33. mourinho wire-taping himself to catch referees being corrupt

34. ryan reynolds and mac from it’s always sunny in philadelphia buying a football club and that football club getting promoted

35. pele died rip

36. women football awards sponsored by shein and klarna having a category for “male football ally of the year” and it’s just random men that went to one (1) women’s game

37. barcelona negreia case (how do you say calciopoli in catalan?)

38. infantino saying he feels gay, african, like a migrant worker, disabled, arab, and qatari

39. infantino saying he was oppressed as a child because he was ginger and italy is not safe for gingers

40. david alaba’s father in law getting arrested for being one the leaders of a far right group plotting to overthrow the german government

41. richarlison being tumblr’s it girl for a month and then not scoring a goal for the next four

42. juventus being in the middle of another corruption scandal and being docked points because of it

43. two teams getting investigated by the british government for playing football the weekend the queen died

44. gavi getting a yellow card in the first minute of a football match

45. pogba’s brother was arrested by french authorities for being part of a group-organized extortion attempt against pogba

46. richarlison getting a tattoo of neymar’s face and neymar paying him 30k to get it removed

47. iker casillas coming out, puyol implying they had a thing, and both of them retracting it in the most misha collins way possible.

48. sane and mane fight

49. zlatan retired from football

50. barca withholding about 50 million in wages from their players and somehow frenkie still didn’t want to join manchester united

[squiffy-fags]

One of Sqiffy's favorite men is Marco Verratti, a professional footballer. Here he is at age 21, still so innocent, don't you think?

His passing ability, vision, control, and transition from middlefielder to defensive breaking up attacks gave him a record of nine Ligue 1 titles for Paris Saint-Germain.

Now 34 more mature with tatoos, smoke and an impressive drunk driving arrest on the Paris Périphérique, is now with the Qatari sports club based in Doha.

Im told, sexual dreams are normal, so there, I'm too having them from time to time. Oh, Marco!!

[eretzyisrael]

by Nicole Lampert

There have been so many incidents that have seemed upside down since October 7 that sometimes it is all too much to bear. The celebrations in the street on October 8, the way the BBC keeps parroting Hamas lies, the fact that the murder of Israelis led to record antisemitism in the UK, the Jew hate marching down our streets every weekend while the police watch on. I could go on.

But few examples have been more stark, in my eyes, than what is happening this week.

Yesterday I watched our Prime Minister tell a Labour Friends of Israel lunch that his government stands behind the ‘independence’ of the ICC to issue warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant. That means – however much they are presently pussyfooting around the issue - our government will attempt to arrest the Israeli politicians should they step foot on UK soil.

Meanwhile, just a day later, we are literally rolling out the red carpet for the leaders of Qatar, the nation which has for years, housed and funded Hamas.

So eager are our leaders to show a huge welcome to the Qataris that the poor Princess of Wales disturbed her cancer recovery to be dragged out to Horse Guard Parade, joining King Charles, Prince William and the Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives.

A lunch, golden carriages and a fancy pants Buckingham Palace state banquet await. But I’m thinking about the British hostage Emily Damari. Who knows what her last meal was? What rags she is dressed in? Has anyone even mentioned Emily to the Sheikh as they gladhand and grin in photographs with him?

Let me repeat: Qatar is the country which has both housed and supported Hamas as well as many other Muslim Brotherhood terror networks. They are a danger to the world.

There is an irony too that of the many things Israel is accused of doing, Qatar gets away with barely a peep from the sanctimonious crew.

Just a few years ago, it bought a World Cup, used slave labour to create the arenas and we stood by and let it happen. Controversial Qatari minister Nasser Al-Khelaifi – not only runs top French team Paris Saint Germain but is also chairman of the European Club Association, making him one of the most influential people in European football. Visit Qatar is an official sponsor of the UEFA Euros 2024 and 2028.

[completeoveranalysis]

EMOTIONALLY DEVASTATED IN THE CLUB TONIGHT

How are there still 22 chapters to go.

I am very glad there are still 22 chapters to go but how are there still so many chapters to go.

Time to spend every waking moment thinking about this until the next liveblog.

BUT SUFFERING ASIDE thank you so much for all your comments and replies! They were devastating and wonderful and I am having a wonderful terrible time.

And! Thank you to everyone who supports me over on Patreon! IT GETS ME THROUGH CLONE DEATH THAT'S FOR SURE:

First Tier of Patrons

Coconi

Rien [Ri]

Sapphireswimming

Luke Wilson

Stupid Kitsune

Jordan Fredriksz

Shynerdycactus

CloudMenaceBird

Corinne Burr

Qatari Pekarsky

Fer E

MokoCharm

limitless_paper

Higher Tier of Patrons:

UNTIL NEXT TIME, TREASURE THE TIME YOU GET WITH YOUR CLONES.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN THE METAPHORICAL LOOP WILL CLOSE AND HE WILL SHATTER IN YOUR ARMS.

;_;

[ultrajaphunter]

Qatar seems like the model “modern Arab state” and a mediator. The Gulf Country has spent a Fortune buying Western Football Clubs, iconic Hotels and Real Estate. However, behind their carefully crafted PR, the Qataris are Hiding some disturbing things…

[tieflingkisser]

Al Jazeera office raided as Israel takes channel off air

Israel's government has moved to shut down the operations of the Al Jazeera television network in the country, branding it a mouthpiece for Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet agreed to the closure while the war in Gaza is ongoing. Police raided the Qatari broadcaster's office at the Ambassador hotel in Jerusalem on Sunday. Al Jazeera called claims it was a threat to Israeli security a "dangerous and ridiculous lie". The channel said it reserved the right to "pursue every legal step". Israel's Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said equipment had been taken in the raid. A video posted by the minister on X shows police officers and inspectors from the ministry entering a hotel room. A BBC team visited the scene, but was prevented from filming or going into the hotel by police.

[...]

The shut down of Al Jazeera in Israel has been criticised by a number of human rights and press groups. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said they had filed a request to the country's Supreme Court to issue an interim order to overturn the ban. The group said that claims that the broadcaster was a propaganda tool for Hamas were "unfounded", and that Sunday's ban was less about security concerns and more to "serve a more politically motivated agenda, aimed at silencing critical voices and targeting Arab media". The Foreign Press Association (FPA) urged the Israeli government to reconsider its decision, saying the shut down of Al Jazeera in the country should be "a cause for concern for all supporters of a free press". The FPA said in a statement that Israel now joins "a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station", and warned that Mr Netanyahu has the authority to target other foreign outlets that he considers to be "acting against the state". The Committee to Protect Journalists' (CPJ) Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna echoed the same concerns, saying: "The Israeli cabinet must allow Al Jazeera and all international media outlets to operate freely in Israel, especially during wartime." The UN's Human Rights office also called the Israeli government to reverse the ban, posting on X: "A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza." Foreign journalists are banned from entering Gaza, and Al Jazeera staff there have been some of the only reporters on the ground.

[sinem147]

Al-Nassr vs. Al-Sadd: A Clash of Titans in the AFC Champions League

The AFC Champions League recently hosted a thrilling encounter between Al-Nassr and Al-Sadd, a matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats and global audiences captivated. With the presence of international superstar Cristiano Ronaldo elevating Al-Nassr’s profile, the stakes were high. Yet, the Saudi club faced a formidable challenge against Al-Sadd, Qatar’s most decorated team. This clash not only showcased top-tier Asian football but also delivered drama, passion, and surprises.

Read More in Google News

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Absence and Its Impact

Heading into the match, one of the biggest talking points was Ronaldo’s absence. The Portuguese icon has been instrumental in Al-Nassr’s campaign, scoring decisive goals and leading the team to crucial victories. However, without their talisman, Al-Nassr struggled to maintain their usual dominance.

Al-Sadd capitalized on Ronaldo’s absence, exploiting gaps in Al-Nassr’s strategy. Despite Al-Nassr’s commendable efforts, they ultimately suffered their first defeat in the competition, a significant blow to their morale and group stage ambitions .

Read More in Google News

A Tactical Battle: Al-Sadd’s Strategic Brilliance

Al-Sadd, under the guidance of coach Bruno Miguel, demonstrated a masterclass in tactical discipline. Their organized defense stifled Al-Nassr’s attack, while their counterattacking play was sharp and effective. Key players like Akram Afif and Baghdad Bounedjah shone, showcasing their skill and composure on the big stage.

The Qatari side’s victory highlighted their status as serious contenders for the AFC Champions League title. Their performance was a reminder of the depth of talent and tactical acumen present in Asian football.

Read More in Google News

Fan Reactions and Social Media Frenzy

The match was a trending topic across social media, with fans debating Al-Nassr’s reliance on Ronaldo and praising Al-Sadd’s resilience. Memes, analysis, and passionate discussions flooded platforms like Twitter and Instagram. The rivalry between Saudi and Qatari clubs added another layer of intrigue, with fans from both nations passionately supporting their teams.

Read More in Google News

What’s Next for Al-Nassr?

For Al-Nassr, the defeat serves as a wake-up call. They remain in contention for qualification but must address their vulnerabilities, especially when Ronaldo is unavailable. Coach Luis Castro will need to recalibrate his tactics and motivate his squad for the challenges ahead.

Read More in Google News

As for Al-Sadd, their victory solidifies their position in the group and boosts their confidence. Their fans will be hopeful that this momentum carries them deep into the tournament .

The Growing Global Appeal of Asian Football

Matches like Al-Nassr vs. Al-Sadd underscore the growing global appeal of Asian football. With high-profile players like Ronaldo joining the league, the AFC Champions League is gaining international attention. This trend is a testament to the region’s investment in football and its ambition to compete with European leagues.

As the tournament progresses, fans worldwide will eagerly follow the action, hoping for more unforgettable moments and epic showdowns.

Final Thoughts

The Al-Nassr vs. Al-Sadd encounter was more than just a football match; it was a spectacle that captured the essence of competition, resilience, and passion. With such riveting games, the AFC Champions League continues to prove itself as a stage for football’s brightest stars and most exciting narratives.

Read More in Google News

[armchairfootballer]

It’s been a rollercoaster 10 years since James Rodríguez wowed the world

It's been 10 years since James Rodríguez scored *that* goal. Yes, that one. You remember it well, surely.

The setting: Brazil's historic Maracanã stadium. In the 28th minute of their Round of 16 contest against Uruguay, Colombia's Abel Aguilar lobbed a header to James, who played it off his chest and volley-kicked it into the top of his opponents' net, near the corner, well beyond a diving Fernando Muslera. In a post-match summary of the goal, the poetic British commentator Peter Drury declared, "First touch, sumptuous. Second touch, magical. That's not a left foot. That is a wand." Uruguayan defender José María Giménez could do nothing more than stand with his hands on his hips, staring at the net in disbelief.

"My word, this boy's a star!" Drury proclaimed in the moment. James did not disappoint. He added another goal that game, taking his tally to five in the tournament after just four games. He'd add another in a quarterfinal loss to Brazil. Though Colombia would bow out at that point, James would go on to win the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer and, later, the Puskas Award for the year's most beautiful goal.

But it hasn't been a bed of roses for James in the ten years since Rio. Today, on his 33rd birthday, we take a look at the rise, fall, and revival of the Colombian midfielder.

The rising star

James had been building a strong career for himself in advance of the 2014 World Cup with productive seasons at Porto (32 goals in 107 appearances; 6 trophies) followed by a high-profile move to Monaco — a 5-year contract with a €45 million transfer fee. But in a post-World Cup interview, James said the magic words: that it would be his "life's dream" to play for Real Madrid. Ten days later, and with 4 years still left on his contract, James had signed with Carlo Ancelotti's band of superstars, a roster that included the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, Kareem Benzema, and Sergio Ramos to name just a few. (Casillas, Pepe, Bale, Marcelo, Navas to name just a few more.)

Things started well at Madrid. Even amidst a team rich in talent, and despite being out for two months with injury, James contributed 17 goals in his first season. But later injuries and diminishing returns in successive seasons meant that James could no longer keep a regular place on the squad. New Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane also didn't seem to favor James' playing style, leading the Colombian to request a loan to Bayern Munich, where we would be reunited with Ancelotti.

Internationally, James was still making waves. At 25, he was named Colombia team captain for the 2016 Copa América, leading them to third place, losing only to eventual winners, Chile.

Fading away

Injuries plagued James for quite some time, keeping him from action for both club and country. After such a dazzling display in 2014, James sat on the bench at the 2018 World Cup and watched as his team went out to England in penalties in the Round of 16.

Despite scoring some key goals to help Bayern Munich win two league titles and a Pokal, James had netted only 15 goals in his 67 appearances with the club, and the owners opted not to pick up the option to purchase him. With no home in Munich or Madrid, he moved to Merseyside for a short stint with Everton (again, reuniting him with Ancelotti).

But failing to impress in England, and with no other clubs willing to take him on, James found himself playing for Qatar's Al Rayyan and didn't contribute much to their mediocre season. The Qatari team let him go just one game into his second season. He moved to Greece where he again lasted only one season after poor results with Olympiacos.

And James wouldn't get to return to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup as Colombia failed to qualify, finishing three points behind Ecuador for the last guaranteed spot. How did the World Cup star fade so fast for James?

Fast forward to summer 2023: James once again finds himself in South America. He now plays for São Paolo in Brazil, 13 years after he had left Argentina's Banfield, where he began built the reputation that catapulted him to European football. A name that had once dominated discussions among pundits — that had been proclaimed as "the next great thing" — had now faded into near oblivion. People weren't talking about James Rodríguez anymore.

Renaissance

After their failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, James expressed uncertainty as to whether he would ever again play for his country. That may have lit a fire under the team and perhaps even under him. Something started to happen...

Colombia started to pile up the wins, or at least had avoided losing. They had racked up victories against Mexico, Germany, and Brazil, among other countries. And before you knew it, they entered Copa América 2024 on a 23-game unbeaten run.

Enter James.

The attacking midfield has been a stalwart for Colombia all tournament and has been one of the keys to their success. In Colombia's five games so far, he has netted one goal and contributed six assists, surpassing Messi's tournament assist record. He's been man of the match for four of Colombia's five games of the tournament so far.

And when Colombia face off against Messi's Argentina in Sunday's final, James will need to play a pivotal role. Will his remarkable revival culminate in extending Colombia's historic unbeaten run and winning their first Copa América since 2001?

In addition to reinvigorating this Colombia team and resurrecting his career, James may also be accomplishing something even more outlandish — he may have some neutrals paying closer attention to him and Colombia than to Messi and Argentina. Colombia has arguably been the Copa's best team. Argentina has yet to come up against substantial competition and have had two victories over Canada.

Meanwhile, Colombia have had already had to battle both Brazil and Uruguay, defeating the latter while down a player for an entire half. The talented superstars of La Albiceleste, the world's #1 ranked team for the last 18 months now, can always dazzle and can outplay any team on their best day. But we've yet to see their best at this tournament, and it's feasible Colombia's passionate, fiery play could be a game-changer.

The bookies may have already made their prediction, but Sunday's eventual outcome is anything but clear. What is clear is that James Rodríguez will have a key role to play in whatever the result.

He's hoping it's a role for the better.

[coachtfd]

Damn you have some nerve celebrating a win like this against a team that’s relegation fodder hahaha 😆 Yes you are very much obsessed with Ten Hag hence you are under the impression he will build a dynasty here. Like it or not he’s getting that boot 🥾 when the season is gone in October or so.

I didn’t say he’s going to build a dynasty here, I said United has a dynasty to rebuild; he’s a part of that process. He might build a dynasty here, the conditions to do so are starting to come together. But he might just be another stepping stone, and that’s fine. I’m focused on the process, the building. If we could’ve done it under Ole, I would’ve been fine with it. I backed him until I felt it was time to change direction because he was impeding the process. I’m a big fan of Ten Hag because he’s doing what Ole couldn’t and wouldn’t: he’s moving the process along. INEOS never would’ve come if Ole was still here, the Qataris wouldn’t have bid for the club either, and they didn’t.

Hell yeah I celebrated this win, that’s what real supporters do. 🙌🏾 You think we won all of our titles by only beating Liverpool or Arsenal? When my team wins, I celebrate it. If you’re a United fan, if anyone’s obsessed it’s you. You can’t even be happy when your team wins, that’s a really sad place to be in. If you’re not a fan, you’re just a troll who thinks he’s going to rattle me; clearly, you don’t know me. I eat trolls for breakfast. I think I’ll put a little salt on you when October’s gone and he’s still here. 😂

🧌🍽️

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Benjamin Weinthal,

Qatar's support for Hamas likely played a role in the collapse of the $6.31 billion deal which would have transferred ownership of English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United Football Club from the American Glazer family to Qatar's Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad al Thani, the son of Hamad bin Jassim (HBJ) the former prime minister of Qatar. Sheikh Jassim withdrew his bid just days after the massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 14 British nationals.

The Manchester Evening News reported October 16 on this author's article on about the role of HBJ in stoking antisemitism. FWI highlighted Jassim's antisemitism in a September 29 article that cited a translation by the Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). HBJ told Kuwaiti media outlet Al Qabas that if oil was sold by Jews, "It would be the most expensive thing in the world." HBJ worked with his son to raise funds for their now-defunct bid to buy Manchester United.

In its coverage, the Manchester Evening News noted "It would be remiss to overlook the fact the Glazers are Jewish" in light of HBJ's antisemitic statements and the implosion of the deal.

Marc Eichinger, a former French intelligence agent, told FWI that "It was important that they did not buy Manchester United because it is a tool of influence" for Doha. He said Qatar has no genuine interest in football as a sport and that the country's ownership of the Paris Saint-Germain Football Club "is used to corrupt and attract people" that can prove useful to the regime.

"An example is journalists who are invited to the VIP room at Paris Saint-Germain Football Club and have contact with people of notoriety—politicians. This has value and they reward Qatar with positive exposure," Eichinger told FWI.

[upsettingandunfortunateclasshate]

There's a tangible disassociation between fans and clubs now. They're not 'our' clubs anymore. Owners are not custodians but controllers, for their own ends whether it's a two bit capitalist looking to get rich or a state.

This was evident in the mediocre celebrations from City fans as they win the treble.

Fans were happy, clapping, not delirious, wild, in awe. It's the UAEs success, and the City fans are merely witnessing it and showing their thanks.

It's the same in wider society, people have become detached from everything they own, their communities, politics - the lot. Football is no different.

The aggro United & PSG fans are expressing through direct action is an attempt to wrestle back control from the two bit capitalists and the Qatari state

[realmadridnews]

Official announcement

Real Madrid used the clause in Joselu's loan deal and signed the player for 1,5 million €.

In 2009, he joined Real Madrid Castilla from Celta Vigo and spent the next two seasons on loan at his former club. During the 2011/2012 season, he played a crucial role in Castilla's promotion to the Segunda División. Joselu made his first-team debut for Real Madrid in 2011, scoring the final goal in an 8:1 victory against UD Almería. For the 2012/2013 season, he was loaned to German club TSG Hoffenheim, and a year later, he was sold to Hannover 96 for €5 million. In the following years, he played for Stoke City, Deportivo La Coruna, Newcastle United, Deportivo Alaves, and RCD Espanyol, all while dreaming of returning to Real Madrid.

On July 1, 2023, Joselu's dream came true. With Benzema's departure, Real Madrid needed a striker and decided to loan Joselu from RCD Espanyol. Though he was not a regular starter, he made a significant impact. He played 49 matches, scored 17 goals—including a crucial brace against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals—and provided three assists. His efforts helped Real Madrid secure their 15th Champions League title, along with the La Liga title and the Supercopa de Espana.

According to media reports, this move is intended to facilitate Joselu's transfer to the Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC. Real Madrid is expected to sell the striker to Al-Gharafa SC for €1.5 million without profiting from the transaction. This arrangement is designed to ensure Joselu's smooth transfer to Qatar and likely secure him better earnings due to the low transfer fee, which would have been higher if negotiated by RCD Espanyol.

Previous team: RCD Espanyol (loaned to Real Madrid)

Age: 34

Position: Forward

Height: 1,92 m

Matches played last season: 49

Goals scored last season: 17

[keenenthusiastinfluencer]

Surely it is truer to the themes of Les Misérables to support the civil resistance group trying to defend the planet from oil barons?

I just think there were better targets then les mis tbh. Like the Tory conference has been going on take it directly to power. Last night they could have disrupted a football match between Newcastle united and Paris saint germain two clubs owned by the Saudi and Qatari states. Two oil producing nations. Millions of people around the world where watching that match. I just think that was a bigger platform to spread your message than a random Wednesday at les mis is all.

[cant-get-no-worse]

HI CIENE !!!!

i love love love your blog. seriously as a post wc footy fan (disculpe, por favor 💀🙏🏼) im trying to catch up on footy history & politics blah blah. you explain everything so beautifully, like you could rival tifo football on youtube. dead serious.

anyway, i wanted to ask if you could explain the whole neymar tryna sue barça episode bc im clueless there and coolers on twitter dot com are usless. ( not reshad tho !!! he’s so 😍 )

Hello love!! It's so sweet, thank you. I'm delighted to read my years of being shoved down this club's inability to keep finances and politics straight are proving themselves useful. 💀 And never apologize for becoming a footy fan recently; WCs are always wonderful in bringing new interest to the sport, they keep it fresh! Also, Reshad's one of the few Barça sources that usually doesn't get on my nerves, so. Kudos!

Anyways. I don't claim to have all the facts straights because I really don't, I'm just putting out there the very general ideas of what went down and my understanding of them. In today's episode: FC Barcelona, Neymar, Neymar's father, PSG, contracts clauses, and a lotta money. It is, after all, a rich man's world. Buckle up.

2013 : Neymar moves from Santos (Brazilian league) to FC Barcelona (Spanish league). Start of the problems.

See, it wasn’t a regular transfer. Initially, Neymar was set to go to Real Madrid; he’d even already passed medical tests. But Sandro Rosell (Barcelona then-President) bribed Neymar’s agent (his father. Very bright idea.) with some heavy fat checks. Neymar then signed to Barcelona. There were also some other movements which I’ll not get into.

What is important to retain from this is that Barcelona declared, in 2013, that Neymar's transfer from Santos costed FCB €50M (or something akin). But oh, color me surprised, they obviously didn’t declare the various amount of bribes and other money movements that had gone in to deter Neymar’s agent from Madrid and to bring the player to Barcelona.

Cause, ya know. That’s some sketchy stuff. You could also quite boldly say it’s illegal.

That’s where DIS Esporte, a company who “owned” Neymar (meaning : they were entitled to 40% of Neymar’s transfer rights) comes into play. DIS Esporte filed a lawsuit in late 2013/2014, claiming that they indeed had been paid 40% of the €50M declared transfer, but they believed the transfer didn’t cost only €50M (due to the bribes and such), and thus they were entitled to 40% of what the transfer actually costed.

A case was opened – this wasn’t small matter, Sandro Rosell (Barça Presi) resigned in 2014 due to the scandal - and it was finally settled before a judge that the €50M declaration was false, and the real transfer fee was more around the 70M/80M. Oops. Barcelona was eventually charged to pay some millions of compensation to close the case altogether.

Little did they know this was just the first taste of the Neymar financial issues and lawsuits ™.

October 2016 : Neymar signs a renewal contract binding him until 2021 with FC Barcelona. Everything’s happy and shiny, he’s Messi's successor, he's hot and successful, set to help his club win more UCLs, probably snatch a Ballon d’Or or two on the way, and continue to play in a swashbuckling style with his best buddies from Argentine and Uruguay.

The renewal contract includes several clauses, as do all such things, and most notably loyalty bonuses (money the player collects at the end of his contract). The loyalty bonuses of Neymar’s contract are around €43M, and since his release clause is an astronomical €222M, no way he’ll get out of the club lmfao.

July 2017 : Neymar gets out of the club.

In an unprecedented move in the football transfer world which leaves the market value of players forever changed for the worse, it is announced that PSG (French league) paid the €222M release clause with some good ol' Qatari money. The move in itself is subject to sketchy stuff, having been paid to FCB itself and not La Liga, but we're not gonna go into that cause na. Neymar himself announces, via a tearful Instagram video, that he is indeed leaving Barcelona.

Now, by the time rumors of his departure came around in May/June/July 2017, FC Barcelona had already paid €14M (out of the total €43M loyalty bonuses) to Neymar. Upon learning Neymar was actually entertaining the idea to leave, and then upon the actual €222M buying from PSG, the club stops the payment, thus not completing the initially agreed €43M sum, since they consider that, by leaving, Neymar hasn’t fulfilled his loyalty clause and thus isn’t entitled to receive any money from them.

An infamous se queda, some splendid social media trolling, a farewell dinner, the launch of a cold war from the FCB players against the board that was to last several years, some pretty creative insults and a life-time resentment being forged later, it’s August 2017.

August 2017 : Cicadas are singing, Despacito (feat Justin Bieber) is assaulting the eardrums of every unwilling car driver, and Neymar (or Neymar’s side, we don’t know from who the initiative came from) tries to sue Barcelona and ask them for the remaining €29M they claim he is owed from the loyalty bonuses.

FCB immediately respond by suing him back for breach of contract. Though they don’t only ask for him to drop the suing for the remaining €29M, naa. They also ask for him to return the €14M of the loyalty clause that had already been paid to him + 10% for delayed payment of said €14M + €8.5M in damages.

2019 summer transfer window : Amidst everything, Neymar and FC Barcelona reties links.

Funny how quick business relationship can change when it’s in everyone’s benefits.

Neymar wants out of PSG, is even willing to pay himself out from his own pocket, FCB is all the more willing to try and get him back after their spectacular UCL fumble. However, the deal fails, PSG don’t want to let him go, FC Barcelona fall short of a few millions to buy him out, and Neymar stays.

February 2020 : Lo and behold! A wild, shiny new lawsuit has appeared! And guess what? It’s all linked to the messy 2013 transfer from Santos! Just when ya think the skeletons are buried, a closet is kicked open.

Neymar’s side, this time, sues FC Barcelona for contingency payments who helped him move from Santos to FCB: essentially, they want some €7M more. So, you got two cases launched against FCB by Neymar’s side.

 June/July 2020 : The cases are presented before a judge in the High Court of Justice of Catalonia. A place Neymar starts to get familiar with. A place Leo Messi also got to know! Ah, football players’ agents and the wonderful, luring world of tax evasion.

Anyways, back to the loyalty bonuses. It’s finally ruled that Neymar has indeed breached his contract, and is therefore ordered by court to pay €6.7M to FC Barcelona.

Oh, wow. Thank God this whole circus is finished.

July 2020 : Neymar’s side appeals.

November 2020 : Now, if you sum up everything that Neymar’s side ask from Barcelona, you get the charming sum of almost €60M.

July 2021 : After many trials and tribulations, it is finally made public by the club that all cases and suing have been resolved amicably between the club and the player outside of court.

Read: huge amount of cash and verbal accords because, presumably, everyone got tired and saw they wouldn’t benefit neither financially nor image wise from the current situation.

And so, they lived happily ever after.

Or till the next summer transfer window.