Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has admitted the continued controversy surrounding the transfer of Neymar has been “embarrassing” for the club.
The recently appointed Catalan president spoke exclusively to the BBC and insisted that Barcelona have done nothing wrong.
Neymar moved to Spain from Santos last summer but the protracted transfer fee reported at the time was inaccurate and Barcelona owe £7.58 million in taxes.
The whole affair has left Bartomeu unhappy, he said: “It’s embarrassing because we think we are right. We think we did things properly, that everything was done in the correct and best ways.
“Barcelona acted in the proper way but if somebody thinks that there is damage to the name of Barcelona then there is damage to be repaired.
“We are not happy with the situation but there is damage to be repaired.”
Neymar was injured during the time the first accusations came to the fore but since returning from an ankle blow he hasn’t reached the same level of performance he had previously shown.
Although it could be put down to Neymar just coming back from injury it may also be the dealing of his transfer affecting his performance.
Barcelona and Neymar will both hope the constant speculation and discussion about his summer signing will end soon and football on the pitch can dominate the news.
