Fourty-two hours after a famous Champions League victory against Manchester City, Manchester City have been charged with tax fraud by a Spanish court over the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar
Judge Pablo Ruz on Thursday charged the club with “an infringement against the tax authority” over the signing of the Brazilian international, who joined from Santos in June 2013.
Barca denied any wrongdoing over the transfer in a statement released on Wednesday, a day after Spain’s public prosecutor had asked Judge Ruz to lay fraud charges against the club.
“The club’s dealings with respect to this operation, and in light of all information available, was at all times in line with the relevant legal legislation,” read the statement, which also revealed that the club would be sending legal representatives to court “within the next few days in order to defend its interests and rights.”
Ruz is also investigating former Barca president Sandro Rosell, who stepped down from his role after it was revealed that 40m euros from the deal to take Neymar to the Nou Camp had been paid to a firm operated by the player’s father, who has been called to testify at the court.
In January, Barca member Jordi Cases alleged that the amount the club paid for Neymar was greater than the 57.1m euros stated at the time and that Rosell had misappropriated funds.
The club subsequently revealed that the amount paid for Neymar was 86.2m euros following the revoking of a confidentiality agreement with the player’s father.
Barca director Raul Sanllehi stated the transfer on its own had cost 57.1m euros including 17.1m to Santos and 40m as a “compensation fee” paid to the company owned by Neymar’s parents.
However, he also detailed other payments around the transfer such as a signing bonus of 10m euros and various other fees paid to the family that took the total cost to 86.2m.
Neymar Sr has come under criticism from Santos’ former and current presidents, Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro and Odilio Rodrigues, with the latter branding the deal he struck with Barca as “unacceptable”.
This led the player to defend his father and also criticise Ribeiro and Rodrigues.
Writing on his official Instagram page, the 22-year-old said: “I am sick and tired of this… I’ve had enough of all this talk.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have released a statement again defending their actions in the transfer of Neymar.
Barca were responding to media reports in Spain on Wednesday regarding allegations of unpaid tax relating to the signing of Neymar, who moved to the Nou Camp from Santos last June.
The statement read: “In light of reports appearing in today’s press concerning the transfer process carried out to bring Neymar da Silva Santos Junior to the Club, FC Barcelona would like to state:
“1) The Club’s dealings with respect to this operation, and in light of all information available, was at all times in line with the relevant legal legislation
“2) Represented by its lawyers, the Club will appear at the Jutjat Central d’Instruccio number 5 within the next few days in order to defend its interests and rights.
“3) We express our total willingness to collaborate with the Justice authorities in this matter, as we have done since the first moment the issue arose and in any other area in which our presence may be required.”
Barca have found themselves embroiled in controversy regarding the finances behind Neymar’s move to the Nou Camp.
Last month Sandro Rosell resigned as club president in the wake of Spanish national court judge Pablo Ruz accepting a lawsuit that alleged Rosell misappropriated funds from the transfer of Brazil international
– something the 49-year-old described as “unfair and reckless”.
Barca club member Jordi Cases alleged that the amount paid was more than the 57 million euro (£48.6m) fee reported at the time.
