The court handling Neymar Jr.’s corruption case connected to his signing with Barcelona granted release to Neymar and his family, with the hearing continuing on Monday at the Barcelona Court, at least until they testify. The defense said the parents were exhausted, even as the Paris Saint-Germain forward played that Sunday. The mom and son left the room while the father remained briefly. The court’s president, José Manuel del Amo, informed the attorneys that they would be recalled at the judge and that their lawyers would decide when they should return. Neymar also asked that his team not face penalties delaying games due to the upcoming French league and Champions League matches on Friday.
From the pitch to the courtroom, Neymar Jr. faces charges of alleged corruption in his contract with Barcelona. Prosecutors requested two years in prison and a fine of 10 million euros. The case also involves Neymar’s father, his mother, former Santos executive Odilio Rodrigues, and Barcelona figures including Sandro Rosell, then club president, and Josep Maria Bartomeu, the vice president at the time. The hearing is scheduled to run over seven sessions and is set to conclude on October 31. Names familiar to football fans will appear, including former Barcelona directors Andoni Zubizarreta and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. The defense argues that the Spanish justice system cannot prosecute acts committed in Brazil, where the relevant events allegedly took place. Rosell, Bartomeu, and Barcelona’s lawyer Jordi Pina were expected to speak in Catalan.
The judicial process began after a complaint from the Brazilian firm DIS, which specializes in the football market and owned 40 percent of the federation rights at the time Neymar played for Santos. Barcelona acquired those rights in 2009 when Neymar was 17, for about two million euros. DIS, which is leading the prosecution, contends that Neymar became the victim of a scam orchestrated by relatives and Barcelona, and seeks substantial compensation. The investigation began at the National Supreme Court, but jurisdiction ultimately shifted to the Barcelona Court. DIS seeks heavier sentences for Neymar, including a five-year prison term and a ban from professional football for the same period.
Negotiations
The indictment states that Sandro Rosell, then Barcelona president, began negotiations to sign Neymar in 2011 while he was with Santos. The deal reportedly included a 65 million euro contract with a termination clause through 2014. The top Barça executive arranged for Neymar to join Barcelona by offering 40 million euros to Santos as a signing incentive, with the aim of securing the transfer in 2014 once Neymar’s contract expired. If Neymar breached the agreement, repayment was expected. The arrangement created the sense that Neymar had promised to sign with Barça in 2011, potentially limiting interest from other clubs. The deal allegedly involved two contracts and an upfront payment of 10 million euros to Neymar, plus 30 million distributed across 2013 and 2014. Prosecutors contend that this transaction altered the transfer market and deprived the DIS fund of a larger transfer value because it affected the allocation of Neymar’s economic rights and potential gains.
The arrangement is described as preventing other clubs from freely negotiating with Neymar. The transaction was executed with two contracts, and Barcelona paid an advance of 10 million euros with the remaining 30 million paid later. The prosecutor highlights these aspects along with the purported manipulation of the transfer market, which affected DIS and Neymar’s economic rights, denying potential higher sums for a future transfer.
Defense discusses jurisdiction
The Baker McKenzie firm represents Neymar, his family, and the agency N and N, arguing that Spanish courts lack jurisdiction because the alleged crimes occurred in Brazil and involve Brazilian nationals. They contend that the act of playing for a given club is governed by the player’s own choices and not by the courts. Lawyers argue that Santos authorized Neymar in 2011 to negotiate with other clubs when his contract expired in 2013, and that the 40 million euro payment from Barça was a signing bonus. They deny a breach with DIS and point out that the contract contains clauses that regulators have challenged under FIFA rules. The defense asserts that Neymar’s obligations do not obligate him to sign for a specific club and that there are multiple clauses in the agreement that call into question its legality under football regulations.