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Neymar Faces Five-Year Jail-Term Request in Corruption and Fraud Trial

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)
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Neymar Faces Five-Year Jail-Term Request in Corruption and Fraud Trial

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)

Brazil forward Neymar will stand trial next week on fraud and corruption charges over his transfer to Barcelona from Santos in 2013 and the complainant, Brazilian investment firm DIS, said on Thursday it was demanding a five-year jail term.

Along with Neymar, the defendants in the trial being brought by Spanish prosecutors, which begins in Barcelona on Monday, are his parents, the two clubs, former Barca presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and former Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.

The case stems from a complaint by DIS, a Brazilian company that owned 40% of the rights to Neymar when he was at Santos. It argues it lost out on its rightful cut from the transfer because the true value of the deal was understated.

Neymar has denied the allegations but lost an appeal in Spain's High Court in 2017, which paved the way for the trial.

Reuters has contacted representatives for Neymar and his parents for comment.

Rosell has also previously denied any wrongdoing. His representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Barcelona and lawyers representing Bartomeu declined to comment on the case. Santos did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Rodrigues could not be immediately reached.

DIS is also requesting jail terms for Rosell and Bartomeu, and a 149 million euros ($144 million) fine.

Spanish prosecutors want a two-year prison term for Neymar and the payment of a 10 million euros fine and a five-year jail term for Rosell plus an 8.4 million euros fine for the Spanish club.

DIS acquired 40% of Neymar’s rights when he was aged 17 in exchange for 2 million euros. It argues that the player's sale to Barcelona was well below his real market value.

Barcelona said at the time of Neymar’s move that the transfer figure was 57.1 million euros, of which 40 million was paid to Neymar’s family.

DIS received a 40 percent share of the remaining 17.1 million that was paid to Santos.

"Neymar's rights have not been sold to the highest bidder. There were clubs that offered up to 60 million euros," DIS lawyer Paulo Nasser told a news conference in Barcelona on Thursday.

The court in Barcelona where the trial will be held said Neymar will have to appear in-person on Monday for the first day but it is unclear if he will be asked to stay for the whole hearing that could go on for two weeks.

Neymar, his parents, Rosell and Bartomeu will start their testimony next Friday.

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Shelton Outlasts Khachanov to Win 1st Masters 1000 Title at Canadian Open

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates with the trophy after defeating Karen Khachanov during the Singles Final of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates with the trophy after defeating Karen Khachanov during the Singles Final of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
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Shelton Outlasts Khachanov to Win 1st Masters 1000 Title at Canadian Open

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates with the trophy after defeating Karen Khachanov during the Singles Final of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: Ben Shelton of the United States celebrates with the trophy after defeating Karen Khachanov during the Singles Final of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

American fourth seed Ben Shelton battled from a set down to clinch his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open in Toronto on Thursday, defeating Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(3).

The world number seven capped off an impressive week that saw him beat Italian 13th seed Flavio Cobolli, Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur and American second seed Taylor Fritz on his way to achieving his first Masters 1000 title and the biggest crown of his career.

The 22-year-old is the youngest American man to win a Masters 1000 since former world number one Andy Roddick at Miami in 2004. His other two titles came in Tokyo in 2023 and Houston in 2024.

"It's a surreal feeling," Shelton said, according to Reuters. "It's been a long week, not an easy path to the final. My best tennis came out when it mattered most. I was clutch, I persevered, I was resilient. All the qualities I like to see in myself."

With the triumph, Australian Open semi-finalist Shelton will rise to a career-high ranking of sixth.

Khachanov seemed to be on course for victory when he took a 5-3 lead in the opening set, but Shelton fought back to break serve and take a 6-5 lead. Khachanov, 29, then recovered to force a tiebreak and capitalized on a series of errors from Shelton to claim the first set.

The second set brought its own twist, when technical issues halted play at 2-2 with players unable to hear audio calls from the electronic line-calling system.

Once play resumed and after Shelton complained, Khachanov surged to a 4-3 lead.

However, the resilient Shelton broke again to edge ahead 5-4 and saved four break points to clinch the second set, forcing a decider, which ended in a tiebreak dominated by Shelton.

Shelton banged down 16 aces and struck 38 winners in the contest that lasted for two hours and 47 minutes.

"Karen was bullying me around the court. The way he hit his forehand tonight, the way he was cutting off the court, the way he was serving, it felt like I had a freight train coming at me," Shelton said.

"So, it was uncomfortable to move forward. The ball was coming at me even faster.
"But I started being able to redirect, get some big shots off of my own, and kind of flip the momentum of that match. So, that was huge for me."

Khachanov was chasing a second Masters 1000 title, having won the 2018 Paris Masters by upsetting Novak Djokovic.

"It's painful to lose in the final ... yesterday I won 7-6 in the third. Today I lost," said Khachanov, who knocked out top seed Alexander Zverev in the semis after a near three-hour battle.

"But thanks to my team for a great result here. I have a big team. The rest of the team is at home, everybody is awake watching all my matches ... We win and we lose together. It's okay."