Brazilian and PSG footballer Neymar seems to have found himself in a tough situation as he has been asked to appear in a Brazilian court on Saturday, October 14th.
DIS, a Brazilian investment firm has demanded a jail term of five years for the star footballer. DIS have alleged that Neymar and FC Barcelona undervalued Neymar’s signing fee in 2013 so that the investment firm received less money than
DIS were promised a 40% cut from Neymar’s signing-in fee when he moved to FC Barcelona in 2013. The investment firm had earlier bought 40% rights to Neymar for €2m when the player was just 17 years old. As promised by Neymar and his family, DIS received a 40% share of €17.1m that was paid to Santos.
DIS has now alleged that Neymar’s rights were not sold to the highest bidder. They now demand a five-year jail term for Neymar as well as a fine of €10m. The Brazilian investment firm have also demanded a fine of €8.4m for Barcelona and a five-year jail term for then-club president Sandro Rosell.
What’s the matter?
Barcelona ended up paying 25.17 million to Santos for the player’s rights and another 60 million for various concepts to N & N Consultoria Esportiva, the family business run by Neymar’s father, but DIS only received 6.8 million, for its 40 percent.
DIS lawyers have claimed that “Santos ended up receiving its 55 percent share.”
“This was done by confidentially agreeing a friendly match with Barcelona for a price of 4.5 million euros and paying 7.9 million euros for a right of first refusal for three players that was never exercised,” he added.
Neymar is not a service or a commodity- Baker McKenzie
Baker McKenzie a firm that represents Neymar in this case have been dismissive of the case. “The rules of free competition do not operate since the transfer from one club to another depends on the free will of the player,” a Baker McKenzie spokesman told Reuters.
“The player is not a service or a commodity. He is a person of his own free will,” he added. The lawyers claimed that Santos had given a written agreement to Neymar and allowed him to talk with other clubs in private.
Neymar would have to appear for the court proceedings staring from Monday. It is not clear whether the PSG player will remain in Brazil for the entirety of the proceedings that is expected to run for two weeks.
