Barcelona President, Sandro Rosell Resigns
FC Barcelona have called an emergency board meeting amid reports the club’s president is to resign.
The Catalan club have refused to comment on the future of Sandro Rosell, who discovered on Wednesday that the Spanish courts are to investigate last summer’s signing of Neymar from Santos after a board member of the club brought the legal action to question the £48.6m (57m euro) deal for the 21-year-old Brazil striker.
On Wednesday, spanish Judge Pablo Ruz issued an order to open a hearing to investigate Barcelona for the alleged misappropriation of funds over the Neymar signing, and that a decision would be made at a later date as to whether Rosell will be called to give evidence in person.
Club member Jordi Cases alleges Rosell hid the real cost of the transfer behind false contracts, saying,”We only want to know how they account for the expenditures, because it isn’t clear.”
Rosell and other Barcelona board members have previously insisted that confidentiality clauses prevent them from revealing the exact amounts received by Brazilian side Santos and three companies who owned a share of Neymar’s rights and Judge Ruz has requested to see a number of documents relating to the transfer.
Rosell, who succeeded Joan Laporta as club president in 2010, said earlier this week that the true cost of the deal, which was announced when Neymar signed, was correct and that he was willing to answer any questions the judge may have.
“We respect all the contracts we sign,” Rosell said. “That’s why I would be delighted for the judge to summon me for questioning so I can explain all the questions related to the contract.”
Rosell is believed to have met fellow board members earlier on Thursday with subsequent reports that he has decided to quit.
