SAO PAULO - Brazilian club Santos said Friday they have filed a complaint at FIFA against Neymar, his father, his company and Barcelona for short-changing them on the star striker's May 2013 transfer.
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior looks on during a training session in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on May 29, 2015
Santos president Modesto Roma Junior said the Spanish investigation into alleged tax fraud in Neymar's transfer had revealed that the real fee paid for him was at least 83.4 million euros -- far higher than the 57 million euros that Barca insist they paid.
"Santos believe that Barcelona, Neymar and his company violated the transfer contract and demand payment for damages, plus interest," Roma told journalists.
In an emotional press conference, he said he did not want to attack one of his club's biggest idols but had to look out for the team's financial interests.
He said Santos had signed a contract with the parties involved for 17.1 million euros, plus a two-million-euro bonus in case Neymar was named a finalist for FIFA's player of the year award.
Spanish investigators accuse Barcelona of concealing the full amount paid for Neymar by splitting it between a number of different contracts with the player and Santos.
The La Liga side are accused of defrauding the Spanish tax man of 12.7 million euros.
Earlier this month a judge ruled that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and former president Sandro Rosell must stand trial for tax fraud.
Santos filed its case with FIFA's arbitration committee, and it can later be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, said the club's lawyer Fatima Bucker.