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A BOLD MOVE . . . Brazilian soccer star Neymar (right) shakes hands with PSG’s Qatari chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi at his presentation in Paris yesterday after his shock move to the French League 1 side which shook the whole footballing world this week

PARIS. – The world’s most expensive footballer Neymar insists it was ambition and not the lure of riches that convinced him to swap Barcelona for Paris St Germain.

Neymar also dismissed claims he moved to Paris Saint-Germain because he “was not the star” at Barcelona. Brazil forward Neymar (25) has signed a five-year deal with ambitious French Ligue 1 club PSG after his legal representatives paid Barca £198m to release him from his contract at the Nou Camp.

Neymar, who won the Champions League and two LaLiga titles with Barca, will reportedly earn £27m net per year at PSG, or close to £540 000 each week after tax.

But the man hailed as “the best player in the world” by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi at a press conference yesterday stressed his desire to help the French team achieve their dream of European glory was his guiding influence.

He said: “I wanted a new challenge. This was about ambition. My heart told me that it was time to sign for Paris St Germain. It was the right time to leave Barcelona and find new challenges.

“I was never motivated by money. I thought above all else about of the happiness of my family, regardless of money. I regret that some people think this is the case.

“I wanted to come to Paris and it was only linked to finding a new challenge. It is not because I was not the star at Barcelona, I fitted in very well there,” the 25-year-old said.

“This is not what I am looking for here. PSG deserve trophies and I will have new trophies, this is what motivates me, I want to dream bigger.”

Neymar also admitted to Sky Sports News that his decision to leave Barcelona was not driven by finance and that he could have earned more at other clubs in another league.

The forward won the Champions League and two La Liga titles during his four-year stay at the Nou Camp but believes PSG will offer him the opportunity for further silverware.

“This move is for ambition, they have a similar ambition to mine,” Neymar added. “I want something bigger, a bigger challenge and my heart made that decision and made me follow.

“That .i..s why I am here. I want to give my best to help the club win trophies. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever taken.”

Among the challenges he has signed up for at the Parc des Princes this term will be PSG’s quest to reclaim the Ligue 1 title from Monaco, who in May denied the Parisians a fifth straight championship.

That mission starts at home to newly-promoted Amiens this afternoon and Neymar is keen to get started.

“I’m ready,” he told reporters. “If I can play tomorrow, why not?

“I will speak with the staff and wait for the green light, but this is what I love to do – play football.”

When asked if he feels the burden of becoming the most valuable player of all time, surpassing Paul Pogba following his £89m move to Manchester United last summer, Neymar cracked a joke.

He said: “It’s not an extra burden. I weigh 69kg, and I’ll remain at 69kg.”

For PSG owner Al-Khelaifi there were no second thoughts when it came to launching an historic bid for the striker who excelled alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez – forming the “MSN” strike force – for four years at Barcelona.

“For me Neymar is the best player in the world, so we wanted to have the best player in the world,” he said.

“Neymar came here to write new pages in the history of Paris St Germain.

“With him our project will grow even stronger. The league will become more interesting for everyone.

“More transfers? The best player in the world is here. Let’s enjoy Neymar.”

When asked about the unprecedented transfer fee received by Barcelona, Al-Khelaifi added: “Today, it might seem expensive. But in two years’ time it might not anymore.

“We will make money together in the coming years as it is a two-brand project. For me it’s a fantastic transfer. “Concerning Financial Fair Play, we have always been transparent.” When rumours of the big-money move began emerging in France and Spain, Neymar managed to keep his counsel while he played dutifully for Barca on their pre-season tour of the United States.

Only weeks before the switch went through Barca defender Gerard Pique posted a picture of himself with Neymar on Instagram with the caption: “Se queda” – meaning “he stays.”

Neymar, who will play alongside fellow Brazilians Dani Alves and Thiago Silva at PSG, said of the Pique incident: “He published the picture but I’d asked him not to. I had not yet made my decision. – The Guardian.