Court Orders Neymar To Pay Barcelona €6.7m

A court has ordered Neymar to pay his former club Barcelona €6.7m (£6m) after losing a case over an unpaid signing bonus.

The Brazilian, who left Barca to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record £198m (€222m) fee in 2017, claims he was owed an unpaid loyalty bonus relating to a contract extension he signed with the club in October 2016.

Following his departure to PSG, who activated his buyout clause, the 28-year-old claimed he and his father, who represents him, were owed €43.6m (£39m) and sued Barcelona.

The Catalan giants in turn sued Neymar over an alleged breach of contract.

A Barcelona court ruled in the La Liga club’s favour on Friday, ordering the PSG star to pay €6.7m (£6m) to Barca, while dismissing his claim.

“FC Barcelona expresses its satisfaction with the verdict announced today by Social Court 15 in Barcelona in relation to the lawsuit involving FC Barcelona and the player Neymar Jr regarding the amount of the signing bonus in the final renewal of the player’s contract,” a Barcelona statement read.

“The ruling has fully dismissed the player’s claim for payment of 43.6 million euros, and has accepted a large part of the defence presented by FC Barcelona, as a result of which the player must return 6.7 million euros to the club.

“Since the player’s representative is entitled to appeal this decision, the club shall continue to fervently defend its legitimate interests.”