Santos Eye Barcelona Legal Action over Unpaid Neymar, Ballon d'Or Bonus Money

Santos are threatening Barcelona with legal action over an unpaid €2 million (£1.47 million) contractual bonus they say was agreed during the transfer of Neymar, after the Brazilian icon received a nomination for the Ballon d'Or.

AS explained the attacker's former club are contesting the Blaugrana's failure to comply with a clause inserted into the deal that took Neymar to the Camp Nou from the Alvinegro Praiano.

The newspaper wrote:

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The Catalans have refused to pay a two million euro bonus which Santos say they are due for Neymar finishing as one of the three Ballon d’Or finalists. Barcelona have replied stating a number of irregularities such as the lack of a tax receipt from the Brazilian club. Santos meanwhile feel that this is just “a smokescreen” and have threatened to take the case to court.

Barcelona’s stance is based on the formal complaint Santos presented to FIFA back in May, in which they attempted to recover a figure in excess of the 17.5 million euros they received for Neymar; the cost of the operation is thought to be in excess of 80 million, a large part of which went to third parties.

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Andre Penner/Associated Press

The famous Brazilian club issued a statement about the matter, claiming "yet another clear example of breach of contract" from the treble winners. Santos suggest Barcelona cite "legal obstacles which in fact do not exist" in the non-compliance of payment, per Marca.

It is not the first time Santos have crossed swords with Barca over Neymar, after it was previously reported the South Americans would chase compensation in the region of €55 million (£40.5 million) in addition to a lengthy suspension for the superstar after a breach of contract, according to Sport.

Neymar said he was "very sad" by his former club's stance at the time, speaking with beIN Sports (h/t Football Espana):

“I don’t want to talk about Santos, for me [the matter with them] has passed,” said the Brazil skipper. “Of course, I'm very sad, but I won’t talk about them.”

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Neymar had a breakout campaign with Barca last year as the club swept to unprecedented success, winning the double in Spain and adding the Champions League pot. The attacker was central to the achievement, as he completed the "MSN" trinity with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

The Brazilian has continued to impress this term, netting 14 goals in only 13 La Liga appearances, per WhoScored.com, as he treads in the footsteps of Messi.

The fee to take Neymar to Catalonia was substantial, but Santos will understand the huge asset they lost when the player transferred away.

Pete Jenson of the MailOnline reported Barca may struggle to hold on to Neymar and Messi in future transfer windows due to financial hurdles, but the issue with Santos threatens to continue through 2016.