Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Neymar reportedly receives €6.5 million a year for avoiding any “political or religious” propaganda that might ruin the club’s image.
The ‘ethical clause’ also stops the 29-year-old from expressing any “negative public comments about the club” and asks for “exemplary” behaviour from the footballer.
The clause also reportedly said that Neymar is required to be “courteous, punctual, friendly and available to fans”.
Neymar, a Pentecostal Christian, has regularly spoken publicly of his faith, saying that “life only makes sense when our highest ideal is to serve Christ”. He is famous for donning a “100% Jesus” headband after matches, such as after winning the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and after Barcelona’s Champions League triumph in 2015.
He grew up going to Peniel Baptist church in his home of Sao Paulo with its pastor Newton Lobato revealing that the footballer tithes around €18,000 every year.
Neymar has named fellow Brazilian footballer and devout Christian, Kaká, as his spiritual role model.
The contract clause was uncovered by the Spanish news outlet El Mundo, which leaked the forward’s contract with Qatari-owned PSG.
According to El Mundo, the deal sees Neymar earn over €500,000 a month from PSG, on top of his weekly earnings of over €570,000.
The ‘ethical clause’ was created to ensure “political and religious propaganda” don’t “damage the image and unity of the club”, El Mundo reported.