Friday, January 24, 2014

Barca plunged into crisis ahead of City clash after president Rosell quits over court case into murky Neymar transfer

Barcelona have been thrown into crisis just three weeks ahead of their trip to Manchester City after president Sandro Rosell resigned on Thursday.
An emergency board meeting was called at the Nou Camp, with many of Barca's board members present.
Rosell, the former Nike executive who took over from Joan Laporta in 2010, stood down after the club were taken to court over their signing of Neymar.
Under investigation: Sandro Rosell (left) unveiled Neymar (right) as Barcelona's new signing last summer
Under investigation: Sandro Rosell (left) unveiled Neymar (right) as Barcelona's new signing last summer
Spotted: Rosell arriving at Barca's King's Cup clash against Levante on Wednesday night
Spotted: Rosell arriving at Barca's King's Cup clash against Levante on Wednesday night
He met with his No 2 Josep Maria Bartomeu on Thursday morning and the vice-president will now take over from Rosell until at least 2016.
Rosell has always maintained that Barcelona paid £47million for Neymar – £14m to his club Santos and £33m to a company owned by the player’s father called N&N. When a club member, Jordi Casas, asked him to explain the £33m payment to N&N he was ignored so he went to the courts and Rosell now has a lot more explaining to do.
He said at his press conference: 'In recent days we have had very unfair criticisms from national courts, I insist that everything that happened with Neymar transfer was correct.
'The club always has to have an image that defends the club.'
After being shown all the contracts from the Neymar transfer Judge Pablo Ruz has accepted the case although it is still not clear if Rosell will need to give evidence. 
It is understood there are 12 contracts in total surrounding Neymar’s switch from Santos and adding all agreed payments between Barcelona and N&N and Barcelona and Santos the total fee is closer to £82m.

Under their thumb: Barca beat Levante 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Christian Tello (centre left)
Under their thumb: Barca beat Levante 4-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Christian Tello (centre left)
Lionel's landmark: Messi played in his 400th game for Barcelona during the comfortable away victory
Lionel's landmark: Messi played in his 400th game for Barcelona during the comfortable away victory
Rosell argues that other contracts drawn up with Neymar-owned companies have nothing to do with the player’s move from Santos to Barcelona. 
One contract pays them to unearth new talents in Brazil and another pays them to find new commercial partners for Barcelona. There is also a third contract with a Neymar charity to fund work in the favelas.
These three contracts amount to £7m and if the court decides they form part of the money earned by Neymar from Barcelona – in effect disguised wages – then the club will be liable to pay tax on them. 

Ready and waiting: Manchester City await Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League
Ready and waiting: Manchester City await Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League
Rosell also argues that payments to Santos for preferential rights on three players and for two friendly games have nothing to do with the purchase of Neymar but if the court decides they are part of the deal, third parties who part-owned the player will pursue Barcelona for more money. 
The original payment of £33m to N&N is also being disputed. It was agreed in a contract signed in 2011 that Barcelona would purchase Neymar in 2014 when he was due to become a free-agent. 
In the end the money was paid in 2013 when the player still partly belonged to Santos. Rosell says this was a penalty payment for breaking the agreement with N&N to sign the player in 2014 but this is disputed.

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