NEYMAR SANTOS SR. has earned himself a massive income looking after his famous footballing son.
When Neymar Jr. left Barcelona for PSG in a world record £189million – he was the man brokering the deal.
The younger Neymar used to be managed by both his father and Wagner Ribeiro. But now dad does it all on his own after Ribiero was handed a five-year sentence for tax evasion.
As far as anyone can tell, Neymar Sr. has never let his famous client down and has guided him to the very top.
There could be more lucrative work on offer after the World Cup with Neymar Jr. rumoured to be keen on a move to Real Madrid… or even back to Barca.
In the meantime, here is SunSport’s guide to Neymar Santos Sr… a man who has made millions despite a poverty-stricken upbringing.
What is Neymar’s Sr.’s background?
Life was rough for Neymar Sr. and his wife Nadine in Mogi das Cruzes, a run-down suburb of Sao Paulo, that they could not afford an ultrasound scan prior to Neymar Jr.’s birth.
The family often had to survive without electricity and live only by candlelight in the young family’s tiny home.
At one stage the whole family – now with the addition of baby Rafaella – had no option but to move to Neymar’s grandparents’ tiny house, where they shared one mattress.
Did Neymar’s dad ever play football professionally himself?
Yes. He was a journeyman immersed in the lower reaches of the Brazilian pyramid.
When his son was born Neymar Sr. was playing out his final years in Mogi das Cruzes, a sprawling industrial suburb on the outer reaches of Sao Paulo.
Injury problems forced him to give up his own lower-league football career – and with it, all of his income.
What did Neymar Sr. do when he retired from the game?
He basically put everything in place for Neymar Jr. to become one of the best players in the world.
Neymar. Sr. set about controlling all of his son’s professional and commercial life.
Santos was always to be the first stepping stone for Neymar in his father’s big plan and he signed on aged 17 in 2008.
A Copa Libertadores victory and a date with Barcelona in the 2011 Club World Cup proved the high-water mark; from there it was only a matter of time before a £48.6m move to the Nou Camp in 2013.
Have we any idea how much Neymar Sr. has made from his son’s transfer deals?
It has been reported that Neymar Sr. reportedly received £8.9m when Neymar Jr. signed a pre-contact agreement with Barcelona in 2011,.
He apparently got another £35.8 in 2013 when the transfer from Santos was actually completed.
When the striker extended his contract with Barca until 2021, his father was reportedly due £23.3m for his part in convincing the 25-year-old to keep playing for them.
It is further understood Neymar Sr. was due to make at least £19.8m of the transfer fee PSG paid Barcelona in 2017
Has Neymar Sr. ever been involved in anything controversial?
The family’s time in Spain was blighted by legal challenges and investigations into the transfer from Santos, but those came to nothing and Neymar Sr. has always maintained his conscience is clear.
Neymar Jr. said in 2015: “For two years there have been people trying to destabilise us in any way possible.
“Everything that Santos have said, be in the current president or the previous one, has nothing to do with what the documents indicate.
“No-one investigated us until we arrived in Barcelona. It’s all motivated by complaints from third parties, who are looking for their ‘rights’, ‘rights’ which I do not know what they on about.
“All the investigations against us started in the same way: ‘Based on information published in the media, we have come to investigate…’”
What does Neymar Jr. say of his father?
Reveals Neymar Jr: “My father has been by my side since I was little.
“He takes care of things, my finances and my family. He is the one who is in charge. He’s the boss.
“There’s always somebody nearby, keeping an eye on me more than watching me.”
