What a story coming out of Spain tonight. I don’t know if this is good or bad for us, but Spanish prosecutors have announced this evening that they will be seeking a two year jail sentence for the Brazilian striker Neymar, on top of a fine of over £10 million.
The legal troubles surrounding the player relate to his transfer to the club in early 2013.
The wrangle has already destroyed the career of the club’s former chairman; he faces a three year prison term as a consequence of these latest developments.
Does this help us or not? Probably not. The player will have a lot more on his mind than just football, but the best way to put these negative thoughts out of his head is just to go out and play a blinder; none of us will be surprised if that’s how he handles it.
But the club didn’t need that.
There are questions over the fitness of Messi, and now Neymar will be playing under a big dark cloud.
Yesterday, Paul Cassidy wrote on this site that the issues surrounding Barcelona make them unworthy of the kind of respect many of our fans pour on them. These include illegal player transfers, corruption allegations and a tax fraud. There was also some suggestion that they, like their Madrid counterparts, got state aid of some kind … not a frivolous allegation when you’re talking about Spanish football, where this stuff is an established fact.
Would a two year jail term destroy Neymar’s career? I’d suggest not. Other players have gone to jail and come out to continue their football lives. It would certainly bring a premature end to his Barcelona partnership, and probably open the door to a move to England.
For tonight it gives him an incentive to have the game of his life. It could also result in his having a bad night at the office too … but that’s almost too much to hope for.
We’ll find out in a few hours.