BARCELONA: Twist in Neymar trial: The Spanish prosecutor’s office on Friday dropped all charges against the player and his co-defendants for alleged irregularities related to the Brazilian international’s transfer to FC Barcelona in 2013.

Speaking at one of the final hearings of this trial, less than a month before the World Cup, prosecutor Luis García surprised everyone by announcing that he would “drop the charges against all the accused and against all the facts”.

The prosecution initially sought a two-year prison term and a ten million euro fine for corruption against the Brazilian star of Paris SG, accepting the allegations of the Brazilian company DIS, which claims to have been defrauded during the transfer.

He eventually made a plea, believing that the allegations were “not evidence” but “based on assumptions” and that the case was not under civil criminal justice.

Luis García assured that DIS, which held 40% of Neymar’s rights when he played at Brazilian club Santos before moving to Barca, “was entitled to think that Neymar’s transfer would benefit him more, but the jurisdiction was wrong”.

The reversal highlights disagreements within the Spanish prosecution over the complex file, which was first investigated by Madrid prosecutors before the file was sent to Barcelona.

If that doesn’t predict the outcome of the trial, which ends Monday, it makes the allegation very weak in any case.

It now relies solely on DIS, which represents the “popular accusation” in this trial, a feature of the Spanish legal system that allows any citizen or entity to appear as an accused.

DIS claims a five-year prison sentence against Neymar.

Exclusive Agreement

In addition to Neymar and his parents, Barca’s two former presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, and former Santos leader Odileo Rodríguez Filho are also on trial in the trial.

The DIS, which took the case to court in 2015, claims that Barca, Neymar, his family and later Santos hid the real amount of the transfer and “duped” him.

They also criticize them for not informing them of the existence of an exclusive contract signed between the Brazilian and Barca in 2011, which has distorted the transfer window and prevented other clubs from scrambling to recruit Neymar.

Barça initially estimated the transfer fee at 57.1 million euros (40 million for Neymar and his family, 17.1 for Santos), but Spanish justice estimated that it cost at least 83 million euros.

35 million claimed

The Brazilian investment company, which received 6.8 million euros out of 17.1 officially paid to the Brazilian club, is claiming 35 million euros in compensation, which it believes was lost in the case.

In the first days of questioning last week, “Ne” and his parents, who traveled to Barcelona, ​​denied any wrongdoing.

The star, who is trying to win a world title with Brazil at the World Cup starting November 20 in Qatar, said he had “no recollection” of being involved in the negotiations for the exclusive deal sealed in 2011. In his father’s choices.

“I sign what he tells me” to sign, he assured, before his father confirmed that the player was never involved in the negotiations.

Neymar’s father defended himself and argued that it was not him, but Santos who, in his opinion, should have informed the DIS that there were completely legal discussions, and the Brazilian club had authorized in a letter.

The trial is called “Neymar 2” and “Neymar 1” and is a tax evasion case stemming from the same transfer. In 2016, the prosecution and Barça agreed to pay a fine of 5.5 million euros.

Neymar and Barca clashed in court but signed an “amicable” deal in July 2021, ending all their disputes.