Prosecutor asks for Neymar trial

The public prosecutor has asked that Neymar, Barcelona, Santos and their current and former Presidents, among others, be tried for corruption.

Reports in Spain emanating from Cadena SER say the prosecutor believes there is a case to answer for the player, his parents, ex-Barca President Sandro Rosell, current President Josep Maria Bartomeu, ex-Santos President Odilo Rodrigues and N&N, the company owned by Neymar’s parents.

It’s alleged that in moving from Santos to Barcelona, the parties defrauded Brazilian company DIS, the fund holding 40% of the rights to Neymar’s registration when he moved to Camp Nou in 2013.

However, it’s alleged that the above parties defrauded both DIS and the tax office by misrepresenting the cost of the transfer, contravening articles 286 and 288 of the criminal code, a crime which carries between six months and two years in prison, as well as substantial fines, Sport reports.

The prosecutor alleges that in signing with Barca in 2011 but denying the existence of the deal, the parties ‘altered the free market of signing players, hurting DIS, who were deprived of the possibility the player might enter the market in accordance with the rules of free competition and could obtain a transfer of greater economic quantity.’

AS adds Barca claimed to have paid around €17m for Neymar, DIS receiving €10m for their share of the player’s contract, but it’s alleged Barca actually paid €25m and DIS should be due a further €3m.

Barca are also alleged to have said in a letter in 2012 that they did not have an agreement with Neymar, when it’s alleged they had already made a €10m payment for the forward.

Bartomeu, then a Vice-President, is alleged to have signed a number of the contracts in question.

Barca are also alleged to have put the total cost of the Neymar signing at €57m when they actually paid €83m, and the tax office should have received an extra €13m if that was the case.

The transfer has already been the subject of legal action, brought by DIS.

Tags Neymar Santos
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