February 5 – Neymar’s controversial 2013 transfer to Barcelona is back in the spotlight with the news that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu is to be questioned over alleged tax fraud in the signing of the Brazilian international striker.
Bartomeu will give evidence in court on Feb. 13 over whether Barcelona and their directors defrauded Spanish authorities of 2.8 million euros during the 2014 tax year.
Barcelona initially claimed that the cost of the Neymar transfer from Santos was 57.1 million euros but the case was taken to court by a fan seeking transparency over the deal.
Former Barca president Sandro Rosell, who was also a prominent member of the European Club Association, resigned over the affair after Barca member Jordi Cases questioned the transfer figures.
Bartomeu, who replaced Rosell, has already given a breakdown of the cost of the transfer which revealed that it actually amounted to 86.2 million euros with the inclusion of payments to the player and his family.
But prosecutors are now investigating claims that tax was not paid on an outstanding installment of the transfer that took place at the start of Bartomeu’s presidency.
Bartomeu’s pending court appearance is the latest incident in an off-the-field crisis at Barca who have already been rocked by a transfer ban for two windows over the signing of overseas under-18 players.
Bartomeu insinuated on Spanish television that bitter rivals Real Madrid had a part to play in the Neymar court case. “We have done nothing wrong and we will keep saying the truth,” Bartomeu said.
“Other clubs wanted to sign Neymar paying more money but they didn’t manage it and they didn’t like that. Someone now has overstepped the line.
“I’m not saying Madrid are behind this but Neymar’s father told me that there were two offers: Barca and Madrid. Madrid wanted to buy him and were ready to pay more for him.
“A year ago Neymar was playing well and then all this fuss suddenly came up. Maybe somebody doesn’t like him. Now again he is playing well and there is another judicial process.”