RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Despite not having reached an agreement with PSG to rehire Neymar, Barcelona will meet again with the Brazilian player and his representatives on September 27th in the Catalan city, where the parties will participate in a hearing over a debt claimed by the athlete.
In the lawsuit filed against his former club, the Brazilian football star is demanding €40 million (R$180 million), relating to a bonus payment for the renewal of his contract with the Spanish team in the penultimate year of the player’s contract, in 2016.
According to the CEO and CFO of the companies managing Neymar’s career, Barcelona paid only part of the bonus agreed when his contract was renewed until 2021.
“He had a five-year contract. In the fourth year, Barcelona extended it. To this end, we settled on a €60 million bonus. Barcelona paid €20 million and then when he left [for PSG], they didn’t pay the remaining €40 million,” Bezerra told Folha. He added that the amount with interest and corrections would reach €50 million (R$225 million).
The financial director further said that he followed Barcelona’s attempt to rehire Neymar from a distance. As the clubs failed to reach an agreement, he was not called upon to go to Europe to discuss a new contract with the Spaniards.
“I’m even doubtful whether he actually had a proposal on paper. I honestly do not know why it was not there. It’s Mr. Neymar (Sr.) who takes care of it. I’ll know whether or not he had it next week, because I’m going to travel there. On the 27th, we will hold the hearing”.
According to Bezerra, negotiation of such complexity could hardly be completed in the last days of the transfer window, which closed on Monday, September 2nd. “At no time did they call me to talk about anything”, he assured.
According to the Spanish newspaper ‘As’, Barcelona also filed a lawsuit against Neymar, asking for €75 million (R$338 million). The club claimed breach of contract by the player and hopes to be reimbursed with the amount requested in court.
According to the Spanish publication, this case has already been adjourned twice. The first hearing should have occurred on January 31st. The second attempt, on March 21st. Now it is scheduled for the 27th of this month.