Madrid, Feb 1 (IANS) European football champions FC Barcelona’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell on Monday refused to testify in the tax fraud case of Brazilian forward Neymar in Spain’s national court here.
Both officials emphasised that they have nothing to add and said they shall adhere to what they have already stated in the case, in which they are being investigated on charges of committing tax fraud that allegedly took place when they signed the Brazilian player, reports Efe.
Neither Bartomeu nor Rosell replied to any of the questions asked on Monday, whether by the prosecution or the judge, who summoned them both for being involved in corruption and fraud during the signing of Neymar from Brazilian club Santos.
The two officials stressed that they shall maintain their testimonies of February 2015, regarding the complaint that was filed by a Barcelona partner, who claimed that Neymar cost Barcelona 83 million euros (around $90 million) although the club said that the transfer cost the club only 71 million euros ($81 million).
Neymar’s turn will come on Tuesday as he has been summoned by the court to testify, as well as his parents who have submitted a request to testify in Brazil.
