Neymar 'Fed Up' with Ongoing Barcelona Fraud Case, Vows to Maintain Form
Neymar is "fed up" by the ongoing legal investigation into his transfer from Santos to Barcelona, but he suggests the examination "will never disturb" his quality on the pitch.
Court action was taken against the club, plus former Blaugrana president Sandro Rosell and current chief Josep Maria Bartomeu when it was deciphered that Neymar's arrival cost more than the £40 million originally cited by the Spanish champions.
As reported by Miles Chambers of Goal.com, he actually set the club back £60 million, with £28.3 million being paid to a company owned by the player's father to help swing the deal. Rosell resigned when allegations arose in January 2014. Since then, Neymar has developed into one of the world's most potent forwards during his two seasons with the club.
He's determined to ensure off-the-field problems don't stump his growth, as told to the Brazilian press during the player's visit to the Pele Museum, per Chambers:
"My business is playing football, which is the thing I love to do. We are already addressing the court issue, my father is working on it. If the court seeks justice, as it should, then everything will turn out all right. I am fed up by what's happening. There comes a time when it p----s me off but it will never disturb my performances on the pitch.
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Neymar scored 39 goals across La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League triumphs during the 2014-15 season. He has formed an incredible partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, an attacking trident who will continue to define Barca's success in the coming years.
One of Neymar's most impressive and more subtle successes is his willingness to adapt to Barca's style of play. He worked diligently not to hog the ball and to realise the importance of taking the simple option during his first year at the club.
He's now found a balance which allows him to show flashes of the Santos lone wolf without compromising on the expectations of the Camp Nou crowd, who express their discontent if possession is held too long or wasted.
However, Neymar has proven susceptible to winding opponents up and also getting frustrated himself. This was recently highlighted when he was sent off during Brazil's Copa America defeat to Colombia, per the Daily Telegraph. He kicked the ball forcibly toward an opponent and then lightly headbutted Jeison Murillo when the game concluded, missing the rest of the Selecao's tournament through suspension.
The 23-year-old has also generated headlines by making gestures on the pitch, many of which haven't gone unnoticed. Atletico Madrid captain Gabi discussed Neymar's ability to wind the opposition up, as reported by Canal Plus (h/t Juan Casanez of AS and translated by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC).
"(Neymar) has a way of playing which is a bit peculiar, above all when his team is winning," said Gabi after Barca defeated Atletico 4-2 on aggregate in January's Copa del Rey quarter-final. "He always makes gestures on the pitch. Nobody likes to lose and, with the tension, these things annoy you."
These instances have the power to shroud Neymar's quality in negative headlines, perhaps more so than the court case currently linked to Barcelona and his father. If he keeps developing and steers away from unsavoury moments on the pitch, there's no doubt the Brazilian possesses the quality to one day be a genuine candidate for the Ballon d'Or.
Consistency is key. Messi is also battling through headlines of a court case—which sees both him and his father investigated amid tax evasion claims—to once again outline himself as the world's best.
He is outwardly cool and rarely allows tension to boil over when wearing Barca's shirt. Neymar is well placed to follow suit.
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