Neymar: “The tax authorities treat Madrid and Barça players the same”
Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar Neymar said that he does not see any difference in the way that Real Madrid players and his Barcelona team-mates have been treated with respect to their alleged tax non-payment.
Neymar, in an interview with AS Sport said he did not wish to talk about whether the ongoing saga would create divisions between the players of the two clubs.
He said, “I don't feel as though I have been badly treated, but some people are saying things which are not true and that affects me a little”.
As recently as yesterday, Spanish prosecutors presented tax evasion charges against Xabi Alonso, Ricardo Carvalho and Angel Di Maria who had all played for La Blaugrana for multiple seasons. This was after the likes of Madrid superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric were also accused of evading tax in Spain.
Earlier this year, Neymar’s team-mate at Barcelona, Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month jail sentence that he did not serve because the Spanish law allows for convicts who have not been penalized previously to not serve a jail sentence less than two years.
Also, Read: Cristiano Ronaldo could face six years prison term if found guilty in tax evasion charges
Neymar is in the middle of a rather tumultuous season for the Catalans as they find themselves six points behind their fierce rivals Real Madrid after drawing last week’s El Clasico at the Nou Camp.
But the Brazilian said that none of these happenings outside the pitch affect him when he gets on the pitch.
“I forget about all of those things when I play - that's my job. My father knows what he is doing because he has always worked for that.”
Neymar also blasted the media and the insensitivity that they have displayed while writing what they did about him.
He said, “There are a lot of people writing in the media, who don't know what really happened. There are times when you can't take any more. I'm not saying this for me, I'm saying that my father and mother have to go through all of this… I am used to pressure and people saying nasty things about me. But my family isn't.”
He also said that not being nominated for the FIFA Best Player of the Year award did not matter as much to him. The superstar said, “It doesn't matter if I don't win the Ballon d'Or because it is not the reason I play football. Unfortunately, only one person can win it and Leo is the best and we respect that.”
Neymar was also all praise for Barca legend Andres Iniesta. He said, “He can't be compared with anyone, he's different - he has elegance and class. He is the best midfielder I have seen play football.” He added that there is no reason why any award should dictate what Iniesta’s legacy would be.”
Barcelona play their next La Liga game against Osasuna on Saturday.
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