Even injured, Neymar continues to be talked about. This time, the Brazilian is not directly blamed. It is rather PSG which, during the transfer of the star from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2017, would have benefited from a boost from the government of the time, in particular from the one who was minister of public accounts, Gérald Darmanin, to escape tens of millions of euros in taxes . The former member of the majority party, Hugues Renson, also served as an intermediary between the different parties in exchange for gifts in kind. This could amount to influence peddling. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi has already spoken on other matters in the race , where PSG is also cited, and speaks again on the transfer of the Brazilian.
“Do you believe that we at PSG, with everything we have paid in taxes, we need to do this for Neymar? , virulently questions the president of the club in an interview with Le Parisien . There is something that you do not understand: in France, there is no legal framework for the redemption of release clauses and when you wish to redeem one you must necessarily contact those who manage in France, the government . It's normal. If you don't ask, you're stupid. There is no law, that's why I don't understand why people make this story up. Everything is legal, everything is transparent. We don’t need help.”