It’s a story that stretches and could finally find its epilogue. Almost ten years after the events, Neymar’s legal marathon in the face of Spanish justice is accelerating for good. The trial of the Brazilian star of PSG begins Monday. This is to judge an alleged scam during his transfer from Santos to FC Barcelona in 2013.
The DIS fund, holder of 40% of the player’s rights at the time, believes that the transfer was undervalued, the operation amounting to 57.1 million euros, including 40 million for Neymar’s family , according to the DIS fund. However, according to Brazilian justice, the Seleçao striker would have cost at least 83 million euros.
The Spanish prosecutor’s office requires a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million euros for the former Santos player. Former Barça president Sandro Rosell (2010-2014) risks 5 years in prison. Josep Bartomeu (president of the club between 2014 and 2020), will testify on October 21.
The Spanish court demanded that Neymar appear in person for the first day of the trial, the day after the clasico PSG-OM on Sunday evening (9 p.m.), at the Parc des Princes. Testimony for the Brazilian and his parents is due to begin on October 21 and the trial is due to end on October 31.
In 2016, FC Barcelona had already agreed to pay 5.5 million euros for two tax offenses in the operation. An agreement with the prosecution had then made it possible to exonerate the president at the time, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell, from all responsibility.