Neymar Jr has been sentenced to repay Barcelona following a court settlement hearing involving a bonus dispute between the parties.
In August 2017, Neymar filed a lawsuit against FC Barcelona after the club refused to pay him €43.6m, a bonus included in his contract extension which he signed in 2016.
Barcelona pronounced that Neymar was only eligible for the bonus if he was still at the club on 31st July 2017. The club added the bonus was rendered null since he moved to Paris St-Germain before the date.
After a thorough examination of the case, the social court in Spain has dismissed the Brazilian claims. The Catalans have been awarded the judgment in the law courts and Neymar orders to repay €6.7 million.
A statement on the official club website read, “FC Barcelona welcomes the judgment handed down today by the Social Court 15 of Barcelona, in connection with lawsuits between the club and the player Neymar Junior in claiming compensation for the bonus signed in his last contract renewal”.
“Since the player’s representative is entitled to appeal this decision, the club shall continue to fervently defend its legitimate interests”.
Despite their long-running legal dispute, Barcelona tried to sign Neymar last year and the Brazilian even stopped training with PSG to try and force the move through. This action prompted angry protests from the French side’s supporters.
The move eventually broke down with PSG’s sporting director, Leonardo claiming Barca failed to meet their asking price for the forward who formed a world-beating attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luiz Suarez between 2014 and 2017.