Football
9y

Neymar says Barcelona court woes didn't affect Copa America play

Barcelona star Neymar said play at Copa America was not in any way affected by a pending Barcelona case in Spain for tax evasion related to his transfer from Santos in 2013.

Neymar was dealt a four-match Copa America ban after he received yellow cards in two straight matches and was sent off in Brazil's 1-0 loss to Colombia. The ban ended his participation in the tournament.

The trial of Barcelona, club president Josep Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell for alleged tax evasion linked to Neymar's arrival from Santos in 2013 is set to be heard in front of a Catalan judge soon.

The trial centres on investigators' allegations that the club only declared that they paid €57.1 million for the player when they allegedly paid "at least'' €83.371m.

"[The problem] with the Justice Department did not affect me," Neymar told reporters on Wednesday during an event at the Pele Museum in Sao Paolo. "

Just days before Copa America, a Spanish judge agreed to hear a legal complaint filed by Brazilian third-party investors DIS, who claim they are owed many millions of euros from the controversial transfer of Neymar from Santos to Barcelona.

Neymar said "these are things that happen off the pitch" that don't affect his play.

"I think that if justice is fair, everything will work out," Neymar said. "We were very sad about the news. They have been accusing us of this for a long time now and it is bothersome, but it is going to be resolved."

Neymar and Barcelona have verbally agreed to a contract extension worth €12 million net per year through 2020, Spanish newspaper Sport has reported.

Neymar scored 43 goals in all competitions this past season as part of Barcelona's record-setting attack.

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