Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has hinted that Liga BBVA rivals Real Madrid may have played a role in the Catalan giants' ongoing tax fraud case, claiming that there is resentment towards both the club and Neymar over the player's decision to snub Los Blancos for the Blaugrana.
Initially denied to be involved in the tax evasion conspiracy regarding the 22-year-old Selecao star's Camp Nou arrival, this comes after Bartomeu was indicted by judge Pablo Reuz upon petition, meaning he will have to answer to the Spanish tax authorities for allegedly defrauding the government of almost 3 million euros in tax payments.
He, however, remains adamant that Barcelona have not broken any laws when signing Neymar from Santos, whilst also promising the club that he will resolve this legal matter. When speaking to 8TV, the 51-year-old said:
"The big question here is what’s going on? Neymar had two offers, one from Madrid and one from Barca.”
"Neymar was playing well a year ago and all of a sudden there was a complaint we had misappropriated funds in the deal. Maybe somebody didn’t like it that he was doing well...
"Now he’s playing great again and there’s another judicial action... I will not say Real Madrid are behind all this, but Neymar had two offers...
"A year ago we provided the Camp Nou for the ‘Concert per la Llibertat’ (Concert for Freedom), we play in the Senyera [the Catalan flag]... maybe that hasn’t gone down well in the capital.
"I see a break, both sporting and political but we’re going to keep working to get to the bottom of the matter. My duty is to get to the bottom of the matter.
"Barcelona have not committed any crimes and we would do it all exactly the same again."
