Barcelona has been charged by a Spanish court with committing tax fraud in signing Brazil international Neymar from Santos last year. On Thursday, Barca confirmed the charge, andthen issued the following statement: The club’s actions have, at all times, regarding that operation [to sign Neymar] and in line with the available information, been fully compliant with existinglaw. At the same time [Barça] states its complete availability to collaborate with the justice authorities in this process, as it has been doing from the first moment, or in any other thatmight require its intervention.”
Neymar’s high-profile move from Santos at the end of last season is also being investigated for a possible misappropriation of funds following acomplaint from Barca member Jordi Cases. Last month, Barca President Josep Bartomeu confirmed that Neymar cost the club a combined 86.2 million euros, includingpayments to the player and his family, and not 57.1 million euros, which is what former President Sandro Rosell had said the player cost prior to his departure from the club inJanuary.