Barcelona’s off-field strife despite their on-field success continued Wednesday as Neymar was called to give evidence by Spain’s national court on February 2 for alleged fraud surrounding his transfer to the Catalan giants in 2013.
The Brazilian starred as Barca won five trophies in 2015, but the manner in which his transfer from Santos came about has become a legal nightmare for the club, the player and his family.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, his predecessor Sandro Rosell, Neymar’s parents and two directors of Santos have also been called to declare.
Public prosecutors filed for action to be taken against all the parties after a complaint of fraud and corruption was launched by the Brazilian investment fund DIS, which held 40 per cent of Neymar’s sporting rights when he played at Santos, at the court in June 2015.
Read more:
If only 2014 winner Ronaldo had presented Messi with this year’s Ballon d’Or
Roberto Carlos confident of luring Neymar: ‘I can take him to Real Madrid’
Bartomeu has been called on February 1. Santos and Barcelona will also have to give evidence via representatives on February 1 and February 9, respectively.
DIS has claimed it was cheated of its real share of the benefits of 23-year-old Neymar’s transfer because part of the transfer fee was concealed by Barcelona and Santos.
The deal was originally valued at €57.1 million (Dh227m) by the Catalan club, €40m of which was paid to the N&N company owned by the player’s father with Santos receiving just €17.1m.
However, Spanish judicial authorities have estimated the amount to be at least €83.3m.
DIS received €6.8m out of the total €17.1m that Barcelona paid to Santos, but claims it may also be due a share of the overall transfer payments.
In a separate lawsuit, a judge in May last year ordered Bartomeu, Rosell and the club itself to stand trial over alleged tax fraud linked to the signing.
The scandal over the concealed transfer fee led to Rosell’s resignation as president in January 2014 with then vice-president Bartomeu taking charge.
It is alleged the overall fee was split between a number of different contracts between Barcelona, Santos and Neymar himself.
In doing so, Barcelona stand accused of defrauding the Spanish taxman of €12.7m.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of two years and three months for Bartomeu and nearly seven years for Rosell, as well as a €22.2m fine for the club.
No date for a trial has been set so far.
A Brazilian court has also taken action freezing US$47 million (Dh172.6m) in assets belonging to Neymar over tax evasion allegations between 2011 and 2013.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport