Neymar has completed his world-record €222m (£198m) transfer from Barcelona to Paris St Germain.

The Brazilian forward, 25, met the media at a packed news conference in Paris after the deal was completed.

Asked by Sky Sports News what he would say to people who believe the move was motivated by money and a reported €29.6m (£26.8m) annual salary, Neymar insisted it was more about ambition.

He said: "What I can say to these people is that they know nothing about (my) personal life.

"I was never motivated by money. It was never my first motivation. What I think about is happiness, I want me and my family to be happy. I must follow my heart and not consider the money. If I was following money, I might be in different team in a different country."


He denied he was quitting the Camp Nou because he was tired of playing second fiddle to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, saying: "I'm sad people would think that way. It's not because I wasn't the star at Barcelona or the big star, I felt well in Barcelona.

Image: Neymar (R) and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi after he completed his move to the club from Barcelona

"I want something bigger, a bigger challenge and my heart chose this decision... It's for the new challenge and trophies and this is what PSG want and they deserve it. This is why I came here. That's what motivates me. I want to dream bigger."

The move was completed earlier when Barcelona confirmed they had accepted payment for Neymar's €222m buyout clause.

The deal had been temporarily blocked on Thursday, when the Spanish league refused to accept the clause, but Neymar has now signed a five-year contract at the Parc des Princes, where the club begin their Ligue 1 campaign against Amiens on Saturday.

His departure from Barcelona, though offset by an emotional farewell on Instagram, has created much bad feeling at the Camp Nou.

Spokesman Josep Vives said the club board is "displeased with the decision and displeased by the manners" of Neymar and is refusing to pay a €26m (£23.5m) bonus due as part of his last contract.

The colossal fee smashes the previous world-record transfer of €105m (£95m), paid by Manchester United to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus last summer.

In four trophy-laden seasons at Barcelona, Neymar won the 2015 Champions League, two Spanish league titles and three Copas del Rey.