BARCELONA // A Spanish judge agreed on Wednesday to hear a lawsuit brought by a Barcelona club member against president Sandro Rosell regarding the cost of the transfer for Brazil striker Neymar.
After a preliminary examination of the contracts involved in Neymar’s signing, judge Pablo Ruz wrote in a ruling that there is “sufficient elements for the admission of the lawsuit” brought by club member Jordi Cases.
On Monday, Rosell insisted that the total cost of 57 million euros (Dh271m) to bring Neymar from Brazilian club Santos announced at the player’s presentation last June was correct.
Cases alleges that the amount paid by the Spanish champions was higher.
Cases told El Pais newspaper on Monday that “the lawsuit is against Rosell, not against Barca.”
“We don’t think that somebody kept the money,” Cases said. “We only want to know how they account for the expenditures, because it isn’t clear.”
Barcelona is owned by its more than 160,000 members, who elect a president and governing board.
Rosell and other members of his board have repeatedly said that the contracts involved in Neymar’s transfer included confidentiality clauses that don’t allow them to reveal who received money other than Neymar’s former club, Santos.
Rosell said Monday that he would be willing to answer any questions Ruz might have regarding the deal.
“We respect all the contracts we sign,” Rosell said. “That’s why I would be delighted for the judge to summon me for questioning so I can explain all the questions related to the contract.”
