Let’s be honest, football betting fans.
With a respectful nod to the Bundesliga and Serie A, all the talk right now is focused on two leagues (Ligue 1 and La Liga) and where a certain Brazilian will be playing when competitive domestic football games resume later this month.
For despite fevered speculation over the last fortnight, few expected a Qatari funded club from the French capital to complete a transfer deal which eclipses anything which has gone before and, probably, will surpass anything in the future for some time to come.
Were there even any betting odds on such a move?
Some point to the meeting between Barcelona and Paris St-Germain last season.
The one where Barca famously overturned a 4-0 first leg deficit to complete the mother of all comebacks, albeit with highly dubious refereeing made in their favour.
In the days which followed their remarkable Champions League turnaround, Lionel Messi took many of the plaudits – understandable given his status as one of the best two footballers on the planet.
Yet it’s reported Neymar felt affronted at his lack of recognition.
After all, his two late goals and last-gasp match-winning assist meant he was the real match-winner.
Whether this story is true or not, Neymar is seemingly on his way.
The man who has scored 68 goals in 112 games for the Catalan giants is supposedly ready for a new challenge and the club quickly removed his image from the advertising posters around the Nou Camp.
As Neymar prepares to head to France, to a PSG side hell bent on recreating their dominance after the Monaco’s 2017 glory, the picture is clear for Les Parisiens.
He can be the poster boy in Paris and Ligue 1 and take advantage of the champions who are reeling from the loss of many key players this summer.
Meanwhile, in Spain all the focus is on who will replace the Brazilian – all manner of players have been linked, from Philippe Coutinho to Angel Di Maria to Paulo Dybala. Let’s not forget the opportunity which may now come the way of Gerard Deulofeu, back at Barca after a few years at Everton.
This should be an interesting few weeks in Catalonia.
Across Europe, Milan had previously been the story of the summer.
The sale of more than 60,000 tickets for a Europa League preliminary round tie proves that the Rossoneri’s summer moves have excited their support.
Snatching Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus remains the deal which shocked everyone – until Neymar’s price tag came along – but Franck Kessie could prove to be one of the signings of the summer, while the return of Claudio Marchisio to champions Juventus after injury and the arrival of Douglas Costa could prove equally astute.
Meanwhile, in Germany, James Rodriguez’s loan move to Bayern Munich, where he has been joined by Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso; Sven Bender’s jump from Borussia Dortmund to Bayer Leverkusen (£15 million) and Ignacio Camacho’s arrival at Wolfsburg (also £15 million) are among the stand-out deals.
Yet, let us be honest: there’s only one transfer Europe is talking about right now.
Neymar, it’s over to you!
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