Barcelona: Paris St Germain and Brazil forward Neymar has been ordered to pay his former club Barcelona 6.7 million euros after losing a court case in relation to an unpaid signing bonus.
Neymar signed for PSG from Barcelona in 2017 for a world record fee of 222 million Euros. He claimed that he and his father, who represents him, were owed €43.6m (£39m) due to an unpaid loyalty bonus when he extended his contract in October 2016 and sued Barcelona.
Barcelona sued back claiming breach of contract and a city court has ruled in favour of the club.
"FC Barcelona expresses its satisfaction with the verdict announced today by Social Court 15 in Barcelona in relation to the lawsuit involving FC Barcelona and the player Neymar Jr regarding the amount of the signing bonus in the final renewal of the player's contract," a Barcelona statement read.
"The ruling has fully dismissed the player's claim for payment of 43.6 million euros, and has accepted a large part of the defence presented by FC Barcelona, as a result of which the player must return 6.7 million euros to the club.
"Since the player's representative is entitled to appeal this decision, the club shall continue to fervently defend its legitimate interests."
Neymar had filed the lawsuit in August 2017 after Barcelona declined to pay bonus included in his contract renewal signed in 2016, with the Brazilian striker completing his world-record transfer to the French club the following summer.
Barcelona contended that the clause relating to the payment was rendered null and void when he left Camp Nou, while the footballer's agent and father, Neymar Sr., accused Barca of "blackmail", and the player's camp even called for the Spanish giants to be expelled from the Champions League for not paying his bonus.
The case was initially taken to FIFA, who closed their investigation with no action in February 2018, and now Barcelona have won the case in the court.
