BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Neymar completed his move to Barcelona yesterday in a deal that unites the Brazil star with Lionel Messi in a formidable attacking partnership.

Neymar signed a five-year contract with club president Sandro Rosell after choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid in an intense two-year bidding war between the fierce Spanish rivals.

Formalities done, the 21-year-old striker jogged onto the Camp Nou pitch for the first time in his new Barcelona kit bearing the name “Neymar Jr” on the back.

“I am very happy, very moved to be a Barcelona player and fulfil my dream,” Neymar told the tens of thousands of fans who turned out to welcome him.

Neymar quickly made it clear that he knows that he will have to play second fiddle to Messi.

“I want to help the team,” he said. “I have come to add my part so that Lionel Messi continues to be the best player in the world.”

Barcelona vice-president Josep Bartomeu said the transfer cost Barcelona 57 million euros ($74 million) to be split among Santos and three other companies that own part of his rights. Bartomeu said the club had expected to pay about 40 million euros, but that “the interference of other clubs” inflated the price, an allusion to Madrid.

Bartomeu said there is a confidential agreement that ruled out the release of what percentage each of the four companies will receive, adding that the club would pay out the sum across the next three years.

Barcelona’s previous most expensive transfer was for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2009, when it paid Inter Milan 45 million euros (then US $64 million) plus striker Samuel Eto’o.

Neymar laughed shyly when asked if he was worth the price paid for him.

“No, but I am very grateful that Barcelona did what it had to do to complete my childhood, to be with my idols,” he said.

Neymar’s flight from Brazil arrived an hour behind schedule at about 1:00 pm local time. Decked out in black with sunglasses and a baseball cap, he took a chartered bus straight to Camp Nou and had his first photograph taken in front of the blue-and-burgundy club insignia.

During the traditional thumbs-up welcome shoot Neymar stepped forward and waved over the mob of photographers to the hundreds of fans who had gathered wearing Brazil and Barcelona jerseys and chanting his name. He was then rushed through two medical tests and back to the office to sign the deal.

Neymar later told a packed press hall that he had “followed his heart” when he opted to come to Barcelona and play alongside not only Messi, but the rest of Barcelona’s playmakers.

Even before making it official, Neymar’s new teammates had given him their vote of confidence.

Earlier yesterday, Iniesta said he expects Neymar to become even better when paired in attack with Messi, the four-time World Player of the Year.

Neymar led Santos on their greatest run since Pele stopped playing for the Brazilian club in the 1970s. He helped Santos win the 2010 Brazilian Cup, the 2011 Copa Libertadores and three straight Sao Paulo state championships, becoming the team’s leading scorer in the post-Pele era with 138 goals in 230 matches.