Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr has enjoyed a fantastic start to life in Paris- he’s netted thrice in three games for his new club, and audiences at Parc des Princes have already been treated to an exhibition of the prodigious talent the 25 year old possesses- check his out cheeky rainbow flick against Toulouse, which saw poor Corentin Jean at the receiving end.
However the relationship between Neymar and his former club, Spanish giants Barcelona, looks far from settled just yet as the two parties are set to go head to head in court. There have been rumours of court cases since the Brazilian completed his mega money move to money laden French outfit PSG. But now it seems that it has all come to a head with Barcelona looking to collect close to €9.35m in damages (€8.5m + 10% in interest) as well as forcing Neymar to return a bonus that he received on signing a new deal with the Catalan club last year.
Barcelona have already started legal proceedings against Neymar as they look to win the multi- million pound case against their former player; and if they do come out victorious and Neymar cannot pay, they’re expecting his new employers, PSG, to stump up the cash! You can’t see this being a problem for the rich French side but Neymar has a gripe of his own to raise. The Brazilian is demanding that a loyalty payment, believed to be in the region of €26 million, should be his by right. So this has seen another stand-off between both parties, as they both feel they are entitled to one payment or another.
The loyalty payment Neymar is referring to was actually deposited by Barcelona with a legal representative and not directly to the player. So, if the player walked away, he wouldn’t get the payment. Neymar did walk away but he argues that the bonus was payable after the 31st of July (his move to PSG was completed on August 3) and at that time he was still a Barcelona player and he had completed the first year of his contract. Neymar had inked an contract extension back in October last year, committing to the Nou Camp till 2021.
So as it stands, Neymar and Barcelona will go head to head in the courts in order to finally settle these financial matters. Neymar and his people fully believe that he is entitled to the second bonus payment which was supplied to a notary and never reached the player. As he was still at the club on the 31st of July, they feel Barcelona do not have a leg to stand on in regard to withholding the payment.
Barcelona, who are still angered by Neymar’s departure, feel that the 25-year-old breached the terms of his contract by departing not long after penning a new deal. They’re looking for damages as well as to recoup the first loyalty payment issued to Neymar, although details of this payment have remained top secret so far.
The Catalans, on their part, say that there were three conditions to be met for the loyalty bonus and by moving to PSG, they believe Neymar had forfeited his right to it.
1) that the player does not negotiate with another club in the last three months before July 31
2) that he will express publicly his commitment to fulfill his contract
3) that the collection was to be made on September 1, to ensure that he did not go to another club
With PSG backing Neymar, it could be a very interesting court case as both sides go head to head. According to bookmaker Sportingbet, these legal proceedings have the real potential to continue through the season; however, it is not expected they will have any adverse effects on the performance of both clubs on the pitch. Anyways, did anyone ever believe that the biggest transfer deal ever seen in football would run smoothly!
Neymar has also publicly criticised the Barca board, saying “they should not be there”, and has also allegedly advised Brazilian teammate Philippe Coutinho against a move to the Nou Camp. Barca president Bartomeu is not a very popular figure currently after the club’s struggles in the transfer window, and this could turn into a long drawn saga if both parties remain determined to see it to the finish.
