Even beyond the astronomical costs of the deal, which stretch to half-a-billion euros all included, Paris Saint-Germain’s strike for Neymar is chilling.

Chilling from a Barcelona perspective. A deal that rocks the club to its core. Europe’s giants are not accustomed to losing players they don’t want to see the back of. Much less a player integral to the team, in his prime at 25.

An even bigger problem is how arch-rivals Real Madrid not only lifted the Champions League and La Liga double last season, flexing their muscles, but have also been hoovering up young talent to secure the future of their side.

As well as signing Spain’s outstanding young midfielder Dani Ceballos and the superb Theo Hernandez, they already boast Marco Asensio, Mateo Kovacic and Jesus Vallejo, all of whom are destined to become stars.

Madrid have been improving steadily under Zinedine Zidane, who has gone from a rookie gamble to a double-Champions League winning manager. He has always been sure of himself, calm and unperturbed, but now he has the results to back up his demeanour.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/psgs-neymar-move-rocked-barcelona-10911601