Barcelona Presidents Questioned Over Neymar Transfer

Barcelona's current and former club presidents were questioned by a judge in a Madrid court on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities regarding the transfer of Brazil star Neymar. (Neymar, FC Barcelona in the Dock Over Murky Transfer)

Club president Josep Bartomeu and predecessor Sandro Rosell arrived together to answer questions by National Court judge Jose de la Mata. (Neymar Fined 2,000 for Brazil Tax Evasion)

Neymar and his father, who acts as the player's agent, are expected to testify on Tuesday. (Barcelona Confident Neymar Will Extend Contract)

De la Mata 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.

Investment group DIS was entitled to 40 percent of Neymar's transfer from Santos, but it claims it received smaller compensation than it should have because part of the transfer fee was concealed.

Barcelona and their presidents have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Barcelona maintain that Neymar's transfer in 2013 cost the club 57.1 million euros (then USD 74 million).

Santos officially received a payment of 17.1 million euros (USD 18.5 million) for Neymar's transfer, with the remaining 40 million euros (USD 55.5 million) going to a company owned by Neymar's father. But investigations in Spain later showed that Barcelona spent nearly 83.3 million euros (USD 90 million) to acquire the Brazilian.

Neymar, now 23, helped Barcelona win a rare treble of Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey titles last season. He was also one of three finalists for the Ballon d'Or award won by teammate Lionel Messi.