Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez will testify against ex-Barcelona president in Neymar trial.
Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, is scheduled to testify in the prosecution of former Barcelona manager Sandro Rossell for crimes of fraud and corruption in the signing of Neymar, according to EFE (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Rossell and another former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, together with Neymar and his father, will be on trial in Barcelona Court on October 17 for their roles in the agreement that brought the Brazilian superstar to Camp Nou from Santos FC.
Brazilian investment group DIS, which at the time of the transfer owned a portion of Neymar’s rights and was due 40% of his transfer fees, filed the complaint.
However, they ultimately received far less than they were entitled to since Neymar’s father and the Barcelona authorities conspired to hide a portion of the transfer cost.
Rossell, Bartomeu, who was vice president of Barça at the time, and Neymar have all been named in allegations made by DIS. If found guilty, Neymar could receive a five-year prison sentence.
The Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been identified as one of the 18 witnesses called for the hearing after DIS nominated his name. The trial is scheduled to begin in a few months.
On October 18, the second day of the trial, the Real Madrid president will have to show up for the hearing.
Perez stated in an interview he gave in 2016 for “Jugones” that after paying out all the parties involved in the agreement, Barcelona had spent roughly €150 million on Neymar’s acquisition overall. The DIS has also submitted the interview as documentation proof.
As stated before, DIS is advocating for a five-year punishment as well as a five-year ban from the game. However, the prosecutor is requesting a €10 million fine and a two-year prison sentence.
