Hogwired All about sports According to news reports from Reuters in a recent hearing, Spain’s High Court has said that it has reopened a corruption and fraud investigation against Brazilian football player Neymar over his transfer to Barcelona from Santos. This investigation was ordered by the Spanish high court after an appeal was filed by the public prosecutor. Earlier in July this year, Spain’s Top criminal court’s prosecutors alleged that Neymar and his father did not disclose the the actual amount of the player’s multi-million-euro transfer from Santos to Barcelona. While Neymar in his previous interviews has denied any wrongdoing. Barcelona said it has paid €57m (£43m) for Neymar in 2013, But according to investigators, the fee was closer to €83m. It is alleged that Barcelona, concealed a part of the deal. Barcelona, on the other hand, has denied any wrongdoing. The Brazilian investment fund which has 40% ownership of Neymar’s sports has alleged that it was deprived of its full share of this deal.
It must be noted that a High Court judge had initially dropped the charges in July against Neymar Da Silva Santos who is also his and his father-cum-agent. The judge also dropped charges against former Barcelona president Sandro Rossell and ex-Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.
Neymar who contract with Barcelona expires on 2021, has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. Last February speaking to O Globo TV in Brazil in February, Neymar while clarifying he and his father’s stand said, “Before saying nonsense – that we hid this, or hid that – they should prove it. My father is doing everything to ensure that I can just focus on playing football. He handles the books. But at the moment when you see someone you love suffering, it starts to hurt.”
Besides this case Neymar and his father also face charged in a separate case of defrauding the Spanish tax office.
Neymar is the fourth-highest goalscorer for his national team Brazil, with 48 goals in 72 matches for in Brazil’s victories at the 2011 South American Youth Championship Neymar played a pivotal role.Here he finished as the leading goalscorer. In 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, Neymar won Golden Ball as player of the tournament.
Neymar’s involvement in Barcelona has been profitable for the club. Neymar helped Barcelona win five trophies, and the club came third in the Fifa Ballon d’Or competition. He is also credited for scoring in the UEFA Champions League final against Juventus.
