What Neymar’s new Sh308m monthly salary can do in Kenya
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, popularly known as Neymar Junior, is officially the world’s most expensive footballer.
The 25 year-old Brazilian on Thursday completed his transfer to French club PSG from Barcelona in a move that, football lovers hope will persuade the Kenyan government to up their investment in sports infrastructure and young players.
Here are some six things to know about the transfer deal and what the money can do in Kenya:
1. PSG have paid Barcelona Sh27 billion in exchange for Neymar. The amount is enough to build five state-of-the-art stadiums that Uhuru Kenyatta promised Kenyans in 2013.
2. While at PSG, Neymar will earn an equivalent of Sh308 million a month, or Sh4 billion per year. Neymar requires only half of his monthly salary to comfortably pay President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto’s total of Sh2.5 million monthly salaries for the entire five-year term.
3. Neymar’s father, who forms part of the player’s representative, was paid a Sh3 billion commitment fee by Barcelona after his son renewed his contract last year. He is set to receive double that amount from PSG. The money is just about the same amount that Kakamega county received for two years from the national government.
4. Neymar’s salary (minus allowances, match winning bonuses and other endorsements) tabulates to Sh1,026,666 a day, Sh42,777 an hour, or Sh712 each minute. The player’s monthly salary is more than what the Kenyan Premier League Limited receives as sponsorship fees for the entire year.
5. Neymar’s salary for six days is more than enough to pay all Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards employees for an entire month.
