Sandro Rosell could be in hot water over Neymar contracts
One of Spain’s top judges has ordered the Catalan giants to hand over documents related to the signing of ex Santos star Neymar as part of a lawsuit filed by one of its club members over the cost of the Brazilian’s transfer.
National Court Judge Pablo Ruz has ordered FC Barcelona to present within five days the “contract or contracts signed by Neymar Da Silva Junior or his representatives along with the papers indicating the amounts received for the contracts” and its financial reports from year’s 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The Catalan club must hand over the documents before a decision is made by the judge to see whether proceedings will be opened up against Barca’s president Sandro Rosell for the misappropriation of funds.
“It is a charge without basis. I am relaxed,” said Sandro Rosell. Club member Jordi Cases has been the won to bring the case to court. Neymar, who is enjoying a run of success without the aid of Leo Messi, signed for the “Azulgrana” club in the summer for €57.1 million, €17.1m of which, went to his former club Santos.
Mr Cases is looking for clarification over what happened to the remaining €40m, which Barcelona say was paid to a company, named in media reports as Neymar & Neymar. “It is not known what has really happened to the €40m supposedly paid to the player or his representatives,” said Jordi Cases in a statement read out in court yesterday.
Therefore, judge Pablo Ruz has given the club five days in which to provide Neymar’s contracts. The judge has also asked for the club’s financial records from the previous three years, the period during which negotiations for Neymar’s signing took place.
Toni Freixa, Barcelona’s spokesman, said the club had nothing to hide. “We have acted with complete transparency and we have nothing to be concerned about. We have explained the details of the transfer and €40m euros went to a company. If any judicial body asks for the information, it will be no problem,” said Toni Freixa.
A lot of Spaniards will remember the name of judge Pablo Ruz, as he is in charge of the ongoing scandalous “Bárcenas case” in which former Popular Party treasurer Luis Bárcenas is accused of having €47 million euros in undeclared Swiss bank accounts.The former party treasurer confirmed the existence of a slush fund, saying it was used to make undeclared cash payments to senior party leaders.
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