Neymar trial opens ahead of World Cup
Neymar, a Brazilian superstar, is set to go on trial in Spain on Monday for suspected irregularities in his move to Barcelona nearly a decade ago, with the World Cup only a month away, according to AFP.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., the 30-year-old waved to the media as he and his parents entered the Provincial Court of Barcelona.
His transfer from Brazilian team Santos to Spanish club Barcelona in 2013 has been the subject of a lengthy legal battle, which will finally come to a head with the high-profile trial.
In 2017, Neymar signed a transfer fee record 222 million euros ($214 million) with Paris Saint-Germain, a club owned by the Qatari government.
His parents and their company, N&N, which handles his business, are also among the nine defendants on trial for corruption-related offenses.
They are all accused of unscrupulous business practices.
Since DIS, a Brazilian firm that owned 40% of the player’s sporting rights while he was at Santos, filed a complaint over the transfer in 2015, authorities have been looking into it.
Prosecutors estimate the transfer fee to be at least 83 million euros, despite Barcelona saying it only cost 57.1 million.
DIS received €6.8 million from the club’s payments to N&N and Santos, which totaled €40 million.
But DIS claims there was a conspiracy between Neymar, Barcelona, and the Brazilian club to hide the exact financial terms of the contract.
Sandro Rosell, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and former Santos president Odilio Rodrigues Filho are also named as defendants.
Intentional aid in fraud, or “complicity”
It is unclear whether Neymar’s testimony on October 21 or October 28 will require his personal presence in court, as he arrived in Barcelona within hours after scoring the game-winning goal for Barcelona against Marseille on Sunday’s Ligue 1 match. On October 31st, the trial will come to a close.
A 10-million euro ($9.7-million) fine and a two-year prison sentence await him if he is found guilty.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is scheduled to testify via videoconference on Tuesday regarding the impact of a secret pre-contract deal between Barcelona and Neymar in 2011.
On Thursday, DIS lawyer Paulo Nasser claimed, “Neymar Junior, with the complicity of his parents and FC Barcelona and its directors at the time, and Santos FC at a later stage, cheated DIS of its lawful financial interests.”
DIS is suing for EUR 35 million in restitution.
– Prepared for the World Cup –
Lawyers for Neymar say the 40 million euros was a “legitimate signing bonus which is customary in the football transfer market,” defending their client’s innocence.
They argue that the Spanish court does not have jurisdiction over the case because the transfer included Brazilian citizens.
When Neymar left Paris Saint-Germain suddenly five years ago, it ignited a series of legal disputes. Barcelona withheld its contract extension incentive and sued the player for breach of contract, while Neymar countersued.
In 2021, the parties were able to settle their dispute ‘amicably’ outside of court.
Since joining PSG, the footballer is enjoying one of his greatest seasons.
He now has nine goals and seven assists in 11 Ligue 1 games this season, including one against Marseille.
However, it seems he and France’s sensation Kylian Mbappe, 23, have fallen out of favor, as Mbappe has reportedly demanded that PSG trade the Brazilian.
As Brazil looks to win their first World Cup since 2002 and their sixth overall, Neymar is expected to play a pivotal role in Qatar.
On November 24, he will lead the Selecao into their first Group G match against Serbia.
Join our 100,000+ members and never miss our members’ exclusive Delsu Breaking News.
Gain Access to Our Private News Room
Popular Stories right now
- Football: Leading scorers across European leagues
- Goals rain for Nigerians in Europe
- Flooding: FG neglected Niger Delta, says Clark
