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Neymar seeks tax assurances before committing long-term future to Barcelona

Updated on: 19 November,2015 07:55 AM IST  | 
PA Sport |

Neymar's father and agent will seek legal and tax assurances for his son before the Brazil captain commits his long-term future to Barcelona.

Neymar seeks tax assurances before committing long-term future to Barcelona

Barcelona: Neymar's father and agent will seek legal and tax assurances for his son before the Brazil captain commits his long-term future to Barcelona.


The defending Spanish and European champions are in talks with Neymar over an extension to his contract, which has less than three years left to run.


Barcelona reportedly turned down an offer from Manchester United earlier this year for Neymar, who has stated his wish to remain at the Nou Camp beyond June 2018.


However, Neymar senior claims his son could be forced to leave Barca once his current contract ends, if the player continues to be a target of the Spanish and Brazilian tax authorities.

"We've begun contract renewal talks, but there are outstanding issues that concern us, and which need to be resolved," Neymar senior said to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser. "Since we arrived to Spain we have been under attack (from the tax office) and it has extended to Brazil.

"For the last two-and-a-half years, we have had to defend ourselves from accusations.

"We will respect Neymar's contract with Barca but regarding the contract extension, we need a deal that gives us peace of mind for Neymar, my companies and my family.

"We are not thinking of leaving Spain but we have a problem.

"We've never experienced such major tax issues.

"I don't want to use the word persecution, but if the working environment here is not good, we won't be able to remain in Spain and will have to leave the country."

Neymar had plenty of suitors, including top Premier League clubs, but chose to join Barca in the summer of 2013 from Brazilian side Santos.

His move to the Catalan giants has been the subject of controversy.

A Spanish court has investigated his transfer to Barca amid allegations that Barca made a declaration that they spent 57.1million euros for the player but in reality paid "at least'' 83.371million euros.

A lower fee meant less tax for Barcelona to pay.

Barcelona, its club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell, are to stand trial for alleged tax evasion.

Back in September, a court in Brazil froze assets worth a reported £31.3million belonging to Neymar due to tax evasion allegations between 2011 until 2013.

"We shouldn't be having to put up with this uncertainty regarding our taxes and whether we are going about things in the right way," Neymar senior said. "It's not easy for us because we're getting it from all sides, from both the Brazilian and the Spanish tax systems.

"We're speaking with all of these parties to try to work out how we should deal with this issue, because what we don't want is to still be in Spain two, three, four, five or 10 years down the line and to then receive a nasty surprise which would be unjust.

"We own the Neymar brand, which has been running as a business since 2006 from Brazil, and we need the peace of mind that comes from knowing that everything is in order.

"We need to do things properly, and ascertain whether in Spain we'll be allowed to carry out our work."

Neymar scored 43 goals in all competitions to help Barca win a Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble last season.

The 23-year-old forward leads La Liga's scoring charts with 11 goals.

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