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Neymar called to Spanish court over transfer to Barcelona

January 13, 2016

The Barcelona forward has faced scrutiny and legal action regarding his transfer to the European champions since he arrived in Spain in 2013.

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Champions League Halbfinale Barcelona gegen Bayern München
Image: Reuters/K. Pfaffenbach

Barcelona forward Neymar has been called to Spain's national court to give evidence surrounding the alleged fraudulent nature of his move to the Spanish giants.

The Brazilian international will appear in court on February 2 along with both of his parents, former Barcelona club president Sandro Rosell and current president Joseph Maria Bartomeu.

The 23-year-old star has been investigated since last year, after Brazilian investment group DIS claimed the player and Barcelona withheld the real amount of the Neymar's transfer fee when he left Brazilian club Santos in 2013.

Neymar joined Barcelona in 2013 for an initially undisclosed fee, until president at the time, Rosell, confirmed it was €57.1m.

However his successor, Bartomeu, later admitted that the total cost had in fact came to €86.2m following further payments to the player and his family.

Bortomeu was later forced to resign in January 2014 when a judge called him to testify, after the Brazilian firm tok legal action. The Spanish court then launched a probe in to the irregularities of the deal, despite a denied appeal from the player.

sb (AFP)