February 16 – Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has pointed the finger for alleged tax evasion over the 2013 signing of Brazilian forward Neymar at his predecessor Sandro Rosell.
Barcelona and their directors are accused of defrauding Spanish authorities of €2.8 million during the 2014 tax year but according to local press reports, Bartomeu, giving evidence in a Madrid court last week, insisted it was Rosell who handled all the paperwork in bringing Neymar to the club and that he personally had little knowledge of the negotiations.
The transfer was originally said to be worth €57 million but it later emerged that the deal was actually nearer €86 million, prompting an investigation into tax owed on the undeclared part.
Rosell, who was also a prominent member of the European Club Association, resigned over the affair citing family pressures.
Bartomeu was also suspected of being involved but following the court hearing, a club statement said he had given “all explanations regarding the points on which he was questioned. In particular, he defended the correctness of decisions made on this matter covered by the club’s tax advisors.”
“He made it clear that neither he nor the club has ever intended to defraud the treasury at any point.”
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