Neymar, Barcelona To Face Trial In Transfer Corruption Case

Neymar will go on trial in October in a corruption case stemming from his transfer from Santos to Barcelona, Sky News reports.

Neymar and the two clubs are accused of fraud and corruption charges over the 2013 move.

The Paris Saint-Germain star’s family are also embroiled in the case.

Brazilian investment group DIS, which used to own part of Neymar’s transfer rights, alleges that it received less money than it was entitled to when the footballer joined Barcelona from Brazilian club Santos nine years ago.

Also Read: FC Copenhagen To Hijack Dessers’ Transfer To Cremonese

DIS says it was due to get 40% of the fee, which at the time was reported to be in the region of £48.6m.

Subsequent investigations looked into whether any part of the reported transfer fee had been concealed.

The trial in Barcelona – which will include Neymar, his parents, former Santos manager Odilio Rodrigues, and Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, the then president and vice-president of Barcelona – is set to end just weeks before the start of this year’s World Cup in Qatar.

All the defendants have denied any wrongdoing, but appeals by them to Spain’s high court have been rejected, forcing the case to go to trial.

Copyright © 2021 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.