However La Liga, as its president, Javier Tebas, had threatened, declined to accept the payment. “We can confirm that the player’s lawyers came to the La Liga offices this morning to deposit the clause and that it has been rejected,” a statement from the league said. “That’s all the information we are giving out at this moment.”

Tebas has argued that the deal would infringe financial fair play and wants to protect Spain’s leading clubs. The transfer is worth around £450m in wages and fees.

La Liga is understood to have also explained that it is unclear on the origins of the money and that under its regulations only Spanish clubs have the guaranteed right to buy out a contract. The league has repeatedly accepted buyout clause deposits from foreign clubs. It would not be able to reject the money if Neymar himself turned up to pay it.