SUMMARY
- PSG lands in hot waters with the French Ministry of Finance.
- Back in 2017, Barcelona was the first party to take action against the Brazilian winger.
Neymar Jr. moved on from PSG in the summer of 2023 with a transfer to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. However, the French club is still struggling to shrug off the impact of the monumental move as they land in hot waters with the French Ministry of Finance.
As per reports from Le Parisien, PSG was raided by the ministry on January 15 regarding Neymar Jr.’s move from FC Barcelona to PSG back in 2017. It has been revealed that the Central Office for the Fight against Corruption and Tax Fraud carried out the raid as part of their investigation of the world record move. It has been alleged that PSG received favorable tax treatments as part of the transfer.
The fraud club is in trouble!!
It was about time
— Horpe (@CFCHorpe_) January 18, 2024
Neymar Jr. shocked the soccer world back in 2017 when he moved from FC Barcelona to PSG for a record transfer fee of €222 million ($242 million). The record is yet to be broken by any club, even though the prices of every player are at an all-time high. The move has always been under the microscope by several parties for the last seven years, with the French Ministry of Finance being the latest stakeholder ratting the Parisian club.
Yeah. Cripple that tinpot French club
— Abubakar Tanimu Umar (@Prince_Bukar) January 18, 2024
The news of the raid was celebrated by the rival fans of the PSG. Comments like “The fraud club is in trouble!! It was about time,” “Yeah. Cripple that tinpot French club,” “PSG downfall,” “Downfall of PSG,” and “PSG is in BIG trouble” echoed the sentiment of the fans.
FC Barcelona sued Neymar Jr. for breach of contract
Back in 2017, Barcelona was the first party to take action against the Brazilian winger. The Spanish club sued their former player for breach of contract. Barcelona demanded €8.5 million (£7.8m) in damages and demanded that the player return the bonus he received from the club for renewing his contract in 2016.
Not So Smooth Transition! @neymarjr Sued By @FCBarcelona For Breach Of Contract https://t.co/KYRdWQrAh4 #Sports #News pic.twitter.com/1llKfrk7IL
— Richard Williams (@RAWFootageATL) August 24, 2017
The case ran for three years before the court ordered Neymar Jr. in June 2020 to pay €6.7 million ($7.53m) to Barcelona as part of the settlement for this issue. The court sided with the Spanish club and also stated that FC Barcelona isn’t required to pay bonuses for the year 2017 to the winger.
Al-Hilal coach takes a dig a Neymar Jr.
The Brazilian was looking to close the chapter on PSG with a bright start at Al-Hilal, however, luck wasn’t on his side as he was injured in October 2023 with a cruciate ligament tear. The winger is set to miss 27 games for the Saudi club. He is set to make his return at the end of April 2024.
Meanwhile, Al-Hilal is working fine without the services of Neymar Jr. as they are currently unbeaten in the Saudi Pro League with 53 points in 19 games. Al-Hilal manager, Jorge Jesus, has been frustrated with Neymar Jr. as evidenced by his latest dig on his star player.
🚨🚨| Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus on Neymar Jr:
“Neymar is the opposite of Ronaldo. Ronaldo has more passion for football and he makes it his priority, Neymar has more passion for other things linked to his private life, which he puts first.”
[@nicolas_vilas] pic.twitter.com/Y2GAqNEVcr
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) January 15, 2024
Jesus compared Neymar with Ronaldo and stated: “Cristiano Ronaldo has more passion for football, and therefore, it is his priority. Neymar has passions for other things, that his private life can offer him, and he puts that ahead of football.”
Considering the performances of the Brazilian winger as well as his injury record since his move from Barcelona. It is hard to argue against Jesus. Neymar Jr. might go down as another Brazilian talent that couldn’t fulfill his full potential.