Bartomeu defends 1.7 million euro fee to lawyer over Neymar tax deal in court | OneFootball

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told a judge he approved a 1.7 million euro payment to lawyer José Ángel González Franco for negotiating a settlement with prosecutors and the tax agency over unpaid taxes on Neymar’s transfer, a deal he says saved the club 17 million euros.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Bartomeu said González Franco was initially his personal counsel in the Neymar tax-fraud case, then was mandated by the club to pursue the agreement while another criminal lawyer represented Barcelona. Prosecutors allege a conflict of interest, which Bartomeu and González Franco deny. The judge is examining operations that could have cost four million euros.

Bartomeu said about 200,000 euros for his defence were covered by the club’s insurance, while Barcelona paid the negotiation fee in two instalments. He added the 1.7 million euros reflected 10% of the saving achieved.

He said there was first a verbal understanding, then the chief executive signed a contract in March 2016. Emails in the case file show the law firm chasing payment, and prosecutors say the board only received the engagement letter and final invoice for approval in May 2017.

Bartomeu said the plan arose from a meeting with him, Sandro Rosell and other former directors, where González Franco was asked to handle talks. The case sits with Investigating Court number 16 in Barcelona after a complaint from the prosecutor’s office alleging mismanagement and concealment, and Barcelona under Joan Laporta referred audit findings that led to the court filing.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo