Santos deny wrongdoing over Neymar sale

Sao Paulo, Jan 26 (IANS) Brazilian club Santos denied any wrongdoing over the 57 million-euro sale of Neymar to Spanish fiootball giants Barcelona last June.

Santos president Odilio Rodrigues insisted Saturday that the club had acted with “integrity” amid claims the Catalan club paid above the disclosed figure and misappropriated funds.

“Just so that no questions go unanswered I can say that we have our integrity intact,” Rodrigues said. “Santos are not afraid of anything, we always acted with honor.”

The allegations Friday prompted the resignation of former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, who faces a lawsuit initiated by club member Jordi Cases.

Cases alleges the amount paid for Neymar included an unexplained 40 million-euro payment to a company owned by Neymar’s father.

Rosell has denied the claims and said his resignation was due to other reasons, not just the Neymar scandal.

Neymar, 21, has scored 11 goals in 26 matches for Barcelona.