Brazilian Court Freezes Neymar’s Assets – Including Yacht

Brazilian authorities have blocked many of the assets of Barcelona star forward Neymar, including his yacht, jet and multiple other properties that amount to almost $50 million (approximately 192 million reals)

Brazilian Court Freezes Neymar’s Assets, including Yacht

A Sao Paulo court rejected an appeal from the Brazilian forward just last week and began issuing warrants to freeze his assets, according to a report from the Brazilian media on Monday.

Neymar, 23, and his family and related businesses were found guilty just last year of evading 63 million reals (nearly $16 million) in taxes between 2011 and 2013, back when he played for Brazilian club Santos. Neymar has denied any wrongdoing.

Iagaro Jung Martins, an auditor with Brazil’s federal tax agency, said that Neymar could probably avoid going to jail if he pays what regulators say he owes.

“He can still appeal that decision, but it is a step forward,” Martins stated. “Nothing changed to what was in place last year: if he pays what he owes, the case is closed. Our legislation isn’t too harsh.”

This is just another of numerous problems Neymar has encountered off the field. He and his father were questioned for three hours in a Madrid court on Feb. 2 regarding the player’s transfer to Barcelona from Santos.

Barcelona had claimed the deal cost the club 57.1 million euros (then $74 million). But investigations in Spain later showed that Barcelona spent nearly 83.3 million euros ($90 million) to acquire Neymar.

Former and current Barcelona presidents and representatives of Santos have also been questioned. Santos also claims to have been hurt by the transfers.