Neymar says he is not a criminal and wins hearts
Barcelona star Neymar has insisted that “I’m not a criminal and neither is my father”. He was reflecting on his involvement in three legal cases.
Neymar says he is not a criminal and wins hearts
A tax-fraud investigation into allegations involving transfer had stained the Spanish club and Neymar. The issue was at the time of Neymar’s transfer from Santos in 2013. The whole matter recently ended with La Blaugrana paying a fine, although investment fund DIS are still pursuing compensation. They still believe they are to gain from the deal.
The forward’s assets ended up reportedly frozen last September. Neymar had to pay a €45m fine to the Brazilian treasury back in March. But he pleaded his innocence just this Monday, having recently signed a new contract at Camp Nou.
“I’m not a criminal and neither is my father,” he is quoted as saying by Marca.
“I don’t know if it’s for a lack of information or the malice of some people, but unfortunately all some people want is controversy.
“I trust my father completely, he deals with everything outside of football in my career.
“I’m lucky to have him on my side so I can practice my profession calmly, without any problems.
“[On missing Copa America], I always want to play, but I understood Barca and their Coach and therefore I didn’t play at Copa America. Now I’m focused on the [Olympic] Games.
“It’s not a priority for me to win [the Ballon d’Or], although it was nice to be alongside [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano [Ronaldo] in the last edition. My objective is to win as many trophies as possible.”
Neymar won the Champions League in his second season with Barcelona with. Along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, he constitutes one-third of world football’s most feared attacking front.
