Spanish court requests two year prison term for Barcelona star Neymar

BARCELONA’s Brazilian star Neymar could be handed a two-year prison sentence if Spanish prosecutors have their way.

They are also going after the striker’s father and former club president Sandro Rosell and ironing out the details of what will surely be an enormous fine.

The case centres on allegations from a Brazilian investment firm who owned 40% of Neymar’s sporting rights that they were cheated out of their share of his transfer fee from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.

Barcelona had initially claimed to have paid €57.1 million, with €17.1 million going to Santos and the investment firm getting their 40% cut from that.

However, the total cost is estimated to be well over €80 million and the club may now also face tax evasion charges. Rosell resigned over the scandal in 2014.

Neymar won’t actually go to prison. Like his teammate Messi, who was found guilty of tax fraud earlier this year, the 24-year-old will be given a suspended sentence if the prosecution win the case.

Of more concern to Barcelona and the player is the demand from elements of the prosecution that he be banned from playing during that time.