Controversies have never left Neymar behind ever since his arrival in Europe. The Brazilian star footballer has always made the headlines, but most of the time for a negative reason since his transfer from Brazilian club Santos to Spanish giant FC Barcelona back in 2013. One of the most talked-about controversies surrounding Neymar is his defrauding of DIS, a company that owned 40% of the rights to the footballer at the time of his transfer to the Catalan club. The investigation regarding Neymar’s transfer to Barcelona started in January 2014. After more than eight years, the final trial is to be staged on October 17 this year, reported El PAIS.
What is the reason behind Neymar’s trial at Barcelona's court?
Ten years ago, Neymar Jr. was the most sought-after footballer for the European giants. Major European clubs fought hard to acquire Neymar. But it was FC Barcelona who eventually won the race to sign the Brazilian young star in 2013. Neymar did not let Barcelona down. He helped the Catalan giants to win the 2015 Champions League and multiple other domestic and international tournaments by showing his magnificent footballing abilities on the field.
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Neymar came to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 to escape Argentina's Lionel Messi's shadow after spending four fruitful years at Barcelona. Despite switching the teams, there have always been issues with Barcelona due to a number of legal matters. When Neymar penned a new contract with Barcelona in 2016, it included a sizable incentive. However, the footballer alleged that Barcelona did not offer him the incentive when he transferred to PSG in 2017. The Catalan club was sued by Neymar for failing to pay him 46.3 million euros. The player was counter-sued by Barcelona for contract violations. Later, the situation was resolved when the two sides were able to come to an amicable settlement.
However, the biggest saga is Neymar’s signing for Barcelona from Santos in 2013. He is accused of fraud and corruption by the DIS, a Brazilian company that owned 40% of Neymar's rights back then.
DIS claimed that Neymar's contract had irregularities. Both Barcelona and the player's entourage had left them feeling cheated. According to the Catalan club, Neymar's transfer cost was 57.1 million euros. Of the 17.1 million euros given to Santos, 6.8 million went to the DIS. The DIS believed they had received far less than they should have as the exact transfer cost was concealed.
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The prosecutor's office is seeking to get a 10-million-euro fine in addition to a two-year jail sentence for Neymar Jr. However, according to several reports, the company wants the player to serve five years in prison and ban him from football for the same time period. The legal battle over Neymar's fraudulent financial transfer to Barcelona has been going on for years, and according to El PAIS, the final trial will be held on October 17 at the Barcelona court. The timing of the trial is quite bizarre, as the 2022 Qatar World Cup will begin in mid-November.
Bottom Line
Whether Neymar Jr. will be sentenced to jail for defrauding the investment fund DIS will be known in the coming October. Neymar's transfer to Barcelona has already been regarded as one of the most contentious. It would likely be the biggest transfer penalty in football history if the player, his family, and the former president of Barcelona were proven guilty of any wrongdoing relating to the transfer and given jail time and financial penalties. It would also be a huge blow for Brazil if Neymar were to be put on trial just before the World Cup in 2022, something their endless worldwide fans are not expecting.
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