Barcelona Gives Big Hug to Its New Idol, Neymar Gustau Nacarino/Reuters The Brazilian striker Neymar was greeted by Barcelona supporters at the Camp Nou stadium after signing with the club. BARCELONA, Spain - His arrival was orchestrated as if he were some blend of rock star and head of state, a 21-year-old object of adoration flown in from Brazil to the delight of more than 50,000 people at the Camp Nou stadium. The fans were anxious to see their new idol, an ascendant Brazilian talent whose task is simple: flourish as a member of one of the greatest soccer clubs in the world. Neymar, one of the sport's biggest stars, arrived on Monday at F.C. Barcelona, the sport's most successful club over the past decade. It was the culmination of a two-year, cross-continent, will-he-or-won't-he drama. Barcelona said it had paid about $74 million to Neymar's former club, Santos F.C., and other companies that held portions of his rights. Barcelona declined to say how much it would pay Neymar, whose full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Jr., but that he had agreed to a five-year contract. Neymar did his part Monday by saying all the right things to a crowd of fans who might be wondering whether his play will collide or jell with that of Lionel Messi, the club's four-time world player of the year. Neymar ventured a few words in Catalan before swearing his allegiance, in Portuguese, to Messi. "I want to help Messi continue to be the best player in the world," Neymar said to resounding cheers. He also juggled the ball 71 times and did a lap around the stadium, stopping to pick up balls and kick them into the stands. Neymar's signing, and his arrival, were the result of "long, hard negotiations" stretching back two years, said the Barcelona vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Neymar, anointed as a teenager as a possible successor to Pelé as Brazil's greatest player, had held off suitors from Europe for at least that long, as his father and Santos insisted it was not time for the thin, rhythmic player to leave his homeland. Speculation continued, however, coming to a head in recent weeks as the Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid made offers. Barcelona won, even though it reportedly offered much less than Real Madrid, after Neymar "talked with God" and "made a decision with my heart." Neymar took the 12-hour flight to Barcelona after playing a full 90 minutes in Brazil's exhibition match against England on Sunday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro. He was scheduled to quickly return to Brazil to join the national team for the Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal next year's World Cup. Neymar's brief time in Barcelona included a photo session, a medical checkup, a contract signing ceremony, another photo session, his first public appearance at the Camp Nou, and finally the news conference. Fielding questions in Portuguese, English, Spanish and Catalan, Neymar, flanked by Bartomeu and the club's technical director, Andoni Zubizarreta, appeared relaxed and at times emotional. He spoke of the Brazilian players he had watched play for Barcelona when he was younger, including Ronaldinho, who was named world player of the year twice. Stepping onto the club's famed field, he said, he "had to fight back tears." Signing with Barça, he added, "was the dream of a child who always wanted to achieve this." Asked if he hoped to enter the ranks of the world's best players, he echoed his earlier words before the Camp Nou faithful: "I've never worried about that. The best player is already here. He's Messi. Neymar also said he had not yet considered what number his jersey would bear - the young midfielder Thiago wore Neymar's customary No. 11 for Barcelona last season - or what position he would play. And he said he had not decided to sign with Barcelona for money alone, given that Real Madrid offered more. "We made the decision as a family," he said, "and we've never been moved by money." He reminded the world's news media that he had been courted for years by European clubs, but had elected to stay in Brazil. "I have to be happy where I'm playing," he said. "Before I play, my father has always asked me, "Are you happy?" And I feel that I'll be happy with Barça.