BARCELONA FORWARD NEYMAR has admitted that he has been frustrated by the way his 2013 transfer is being dragged through the Spanish court system.
The 23-year-old’s transfer from Santos to Camp Nou was initially claimed to have cost the Liga club €57 million, although subsequent analysis showed the overall fees were €86.2m.
The revelations played a part in Sandro Rosell stepping down as Barca president in January 2014 and, this year, Spain’s courts decided to press fraud charges against the newly-crowned European champions as well as Rosell and his successor Josep Maria Bartomeu over the financial irregularities.
Neymar is trying not to let the allegations affect his form and fully expects himself to be exonerated from the legal action being taken against the Catalans, who secretly paid €40m to a company owned by his father to ensure he would choose to join Barca over any rivals.
“My business is playing football, which is the thing I love to do,” he told Brazilian media on a visit to the Pele Museum. “I’m not going to mess that up.
“We are already addressing the court issue, my father is working on it. If the court seeks justice, as it should, then everything will turn out all right.
“I am fed up by what’s happening. There comes a time when it p****s me off, but it will never disturb my performances on the pitch.”
Neymar hit the headlines for the wrong reason in June when he was handed a four-match Brazil ban for his actions in the aftermath of Dunga’s side’s defeat to Colombia in the Copa American group stage.
Without the Barca forward leading their attack, Brazil crashed out in the quarter-finals on penalties to Paraguay.
Another good young prospect coming through.future is green.
@Paully kelly: he is not ours yet.
@Camacsaint: ahhh bollixs
Just cap him in case to turns out good, otherwise there’ll be endless 42 comments sections
Has said he wants to emulate his hero Declan Rice…
At West Ham.
Is he going to “think about my future” and declare for England?