Ex Barca boss is suspect in Neymar tax case

The former president of FC Barcelona, Sandro Rosell, has been summoned to testify before Spain’s High Court on June 13 as part of an investigation into alleged financial crimes regarding the Neymar signing.

Rosell was the president of the club between 2010 and 2014. 

Judge Pablo Ruz handed down the decision in a ruling which took into account a Tax Agency report stating that the club failed to make tax payments of €9 million between 2011 and 2013.

Reportedly, there is also a Tax Agency document which outlines possible fraud of €2.6 million for the 2014 tax year.

Also summoned by Judge Ruz are employees from the football club’s auditor, Deloitte, to appear as expert witnesses.

The court has requested a number of documents, including those relating to the voluntary tax payment of €13.5 million made by FC Barcelona after a complaint of financial wrongdoing was lodged.

The voluntary payment does not exempt FC Barcelona from the charge, as the money was paid after the judicial proceedings had already started.

Spain’s Tax Agency has accused Barcelona of committing tax fraud to the tune of €9 million in the signing of Brazilian player Neymar.

The Catalan club had originally stated that the transfer had cost €57.1 million. However, selling club Santos said it had only received €17.1 million for the highly-rated player.

After investigations it transpired that Barcelona had paid a €40-million fee to the company N&N, which is owned by Neymar’s parents.

The club being implicated in the financial wrongdoing forced Rosell to resign as club president and an investigation to be opened.  

Josep Maria Bartomeu, Rosell’s replacement, waived a confidentiality clause which revealed that the actual fee paid for Neymar was €86.2 million.