Neymar ordered to appear in court over Barcelona transfer

Neymar. AP PHOTO

MADRID — Spain’s national court has ordered Neymar to testify in an investigation into alleged irregularities involving his transfer to Barcelona.

The court says Neymar’s parents, former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and current president Josep Bartomeu also will have to appear before a judge. The Brazil striker is set to testify on Feb. 2.

The national court last year rejected Neymar’s request to throw out a probe into the irregularities. The court is looking into a complaint made by a Brazilian investment group which claims it was financially harmed when Barcelona and Neymar allegedly withheld the real amount of the player’s transfer fee from Brazilian club Santos in 2013.

The complaint made in June by investment group DIS names Neymar, his father and Barcelona as defendants, along with Rosell and Bartomeu.