European soccer star Neymar Jr. has left one of the most iconic teams in soccer, FC Barcelona. He has joined a more unfamiliar team, Paris St. Germain. Neymar has signed a five-year deal making him the world’s highest paid soccer player. By doing this he hopes to be the center of attention by fleeing the giant shadow of Lionel Messi.

Paris’ plan was to spend big and make themselves a “European giant” according to CNN. They spent so much on one player because they wanted to be able to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United. With this key move, they are much closer to their goal.

The Champions’ League was another reason they needed to obtain a soccer player that had the skills to be a superstar on their team. According to CNN, Paris St. Germain “came within a few seconds of knocking Barcelona out of the Champions’ League last year — until Neymar himself scored twice.” All Paris St. Germain fans are hoping Neymar Jr. can get them over the hump they were stuck at last year, and all Barcelona fans are hoping their team has made a wise decision by trading him.