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Judge indicts Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu, predecessor Sandro Rosell for tax fraud

Albert Gea / Reuters

Barcelona's controversial signing of Neymar saw a Spanish judge indict club president Josep Bartomeu and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell, for tax fraud and fraudulent administration Friday.

The probe relates to the real cost of the signing: while Barcelona insist they paid no more than €57 million, investigative magistrate Pablo Ruz claims Neymar cost €83.3 million and the Catalan club hid the real cost in a tangle of contracts.

Rosell stepped down from his role as Barcelona president in January amid the investigation and was immediately replaced by then-vice-president Bartomeu.

Barcelona are also said to have defrauded Spanish tax authorities of €2.8 million in 2014 and have maintained their innocence throughout the investigation.

A trial date hasn't been set.

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