Judges Propose Jail Terms For Neymar, Father And Mother

Spain’s public prosecutor has called for Barcelona star Neymar to be sent to prison for two years for his part in a corruption case over his transfer from Brazilian club Santos to the La Liga champions in 2013, said a court filing.

Judge Jose Perals also called for a five-year sentence for former Barca president Sandro Rosell and a fine of £7.18million for the club, but called for charges against current President Josep Maria Bartomeu to be dropped.

According to Independent.co.uk, the case stems from a complaint by Brazilian investment group DIS, which owned 40 per cent of Brazil forward Neymar’s transfer rights and which alleges it received less money than it was entitled to as Barca concealed the real transfer fee.

Barcelona have been engulfed in legal troubles over Neymar’s transfer since 2013. Rosell resigned as the club’s president in 2014 for his role in the affair and testified in court in February alongside Bartomeu, Neymar and Neymar’s father.

The club struck a deal with prosecutors in June to settle a separate case and paid a €5.5m (£4.7m) fine and avoided trial on charges of tax evasion over the transfer.

Prosecutors are also calling for a two-year jail sentence for Neymar’s father, Neymar Sr, and a one-year term for the player’s mother, Nadine da Silva.

Barca thought they had brought the affair to a close when judge Jose de la Mata archived the case in June, although Spain’s public prosecutor successfully overturned the ruling in September, allowing the case to proceed.

Since moving to the Nou Camp, Neymar has won two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, the Champions League, the European Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Club World Cup.

Neymar, who was born  on 5 of February, 1992, signed a new five-year contract with Barcelona in October.