Media plays an important role these days to decide anything related to soccer players/officials. We have seen in the past how Messi was dragged into tax evasion controversy in Spain, then, media highlighted the issue even more and tried to convict Barca starlet. The same issue again seems to be repeating in Spain where a local court has asked for contract details of young Brazilian forward Neymar from Barcelona and Santos where he used to be associated earlier. The matter was heated when some media sources said that actual amount paid for the forward was much more than what it was shown in the deal contract, in fact, some sources also detailed that it was done intentionally to defeat tax liability to Spanish giant. However, later, La Liga champions refused to accept media created theory and promised to conduct an internal inquiry into the matter. Case is now in front of a local court who has asked for both the versions of same deal: one from Barca and another from Brazilian club. Actually, these days, it has become a trend to hide materialist information from financial documents whenever a high priced deal is signed, like what happened just few months back; hence State machinery has to dig the matter thoroughly if it comes for its scrutiny later.
Though, Barca has requested local court to dismiss the case immediately as there is no truth in the allegations made therein. It claims matter is unnecessarily being dragged into the courtroom while they have complied with all the legal formalities before bringing the Brazilian starlet onto Spanish soil. Blaugrana issued a statement and put its side of the story, it reads as, “Futbol Club Barcelona wishes to express its indignation at the report released on Friday by the Fiscal de l’Audiencia Nacional concerning the signing of Neymar da Silva Santos Junior.
“It seems strange indeed that the prosecutor’s office, having asked for the players’ contracts and the annual accounts of the Club, it should now decide to instigate further action without showing any interest in the defendants.
“It is also hard to understand why the prosecutor has called on entities such as FIFA or Santos FC to present documents, which FC Barcelona is willing and able to provide, as they did on Dec. 26 last year. The prosecutor’s decision casts doubts on what was an impeccable operation and one which has allowed FC Barcelona, for 57 million euros, to obtain the services of a much sought-after player. It is also wrong that new actions are being taken for actions which will lengthen a process we have always considered baseless and unnecessary.”
Next few days seem to be busy for Barca legal team when they would try to gather more evidence in support of their claim.