Paris delight at prospect of footballer Neymar paying French taxes

It's better for this player to pay his tax in France, says minister

File photo dated 01-11-2016 of Barcelona's Neymar. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday August 2, 2017. Brazil forward Neymar looks set to seal a world-record 222million euros (£198.6million) transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain. See PA story SOCCER Neymar Numbers. Photo credit should read Tim Goode/PA Wire.
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The French budget minister Gerald Darmanin on Thursday said he would be "delighted" at the prospect of the footballer Neymar paying tax in France after his expected record-busting transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

"If in fact Neymar does come to a French club, the budget minister will be delighted at the tax that he will be able to pay in France," Mr Darmanin said on France Inter radio.

"It's better for this player to pay his tax in France rather than pay it elsewhere," Darmanin said.

"When you are a minister, your duty is to defend the interests of the state, and the interests of the state are that people pay their tax in France."

Neymar was expected to arrive in Paris on Thursday to finalise his world-record $260m from Barcelona to PSG.

His wages will reportedly triple to $35.5m a year.