Football
8y

Brazil court orders Santos to show Neymar transfer documents

A Sao Paolo court on Tuesday gave Brazilian club Santos seven days to present evidence of the offers they received in 2013 for Neymar that resulted in his eventual transfer to Barcelona.

Neymar and his father appeared before a judge in Madrid last month to testify in an investigation into the transfer. Former and current Barcelona presidents were also questioned by the judge too, as well as representatives of Santos, all of whom denied wrongdoing. The Brazilian club claim they have been hurt in the transfer.

DIS, the investment group that belongs to investor Delcir Sonda, claimed in Madrid court that it was financially damaged because Barcelona, Neymar, and Brazilian club Santos withheld the real amount of the player's transfer fee in 2013. DIS says it was entitled to 40 percent of the total transfer amount.

The Brazil court has now ordered Santos to show all the offers they received for Neymar. The court also gave Santos 10 days to present evidence in defence of the declarations made by DIS and Sonda. 

"We have determined that Santos must present copies of all the proposals received for the Neymar transfer within the next seven days," the court statement said. "We cannot lose sight of the fact that we suspect innumerable irregularities in the transfer of the player to the Spanish club, and this transfer is undergoing proper investigation through the proper channels."

Sonda said Neymar's father tried to re-buy Sonda's 40-percent stake in the player for about €4 million ($4.4m). At the time, though, Neymar's value was already close to €60m ($66m), the group said. DIS paid nearly €2m ($2.2m) for its share on Neymar's rights. Sonda said he felt "cheated" because his family used to have a personal relationship with the young player and his father.

Neymar has also been facing problems with Brazil's tax office, which last year froze assets related to him valued at about 189 million Brazilian reals ($43m) because of allegations of tax evasion.

^ Back to Top ^