Barcelona want Neymar to pay back almost 12 million

MADRID – Barcelona are suing Neymar for nearly $ 12 million, with the club believing he was paid too much to play in Spain, a man with knowledge of the case said on Wednesday.

Authorities are investigating his transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013, when the man said Barcelona had overpaid to avoid possible tax evasion. Recent figures from tax authorities show that the club does not have to pay 10 million euros (8 11.8 million). The player is requesting a refund.

The man spoke to the Associated Press about the anonymous situation because the person was not authorized to make public comments about the issue.

Neymar’s representatives told the EP that they would not comment on the case.

Neymar played for Barcelona from 2013-17 with a record transfer fee of 222 million euros (2,262 million) before joining French club Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar and Barcelona have been accused of committing irregularities by Spanish officials during the Brazilian transfer to the Catalan club, including trying to hide the actual amount paid to Santos at the time.

They all denied the mistake.

Spanish tax officials said in September that Neymar had to pay 34.6 million euros (40.8 million euros) in taxes since he was in Spain, the highest personal debt in the country last year.

Barcelona is struggling financially this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. It cut players’ salaries earlier in the year and continued negotiations on salary adjustments to try to cut costs.

The Catalan club have been facing an internal crisis since losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Lionel Messi finally asking to leave the club and the resignation of President Josep Bartomeu and his directors.

Messi stayed, but Bartomeu was gone.

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