Barcelona - The saga of Neymar's transfer to Barcelona is threatening to disrupt the Spanish champion's performances on the pitch.
The Brazil forward's transfer from Santos last June has led national authorities to charge the Spanish league club with tax fraud as the price of the deal has ballooned from 57.1 million euros ($74 million) to 100 million euros ($138 million).
“I hope it doesn't affect the team,” midfielder Andres Iniesta was quoted as saying Tuesday from a sponsor's event. “It's not good for the team or for him, all of this talk of things besides football.”
Barcelona followed up its Champions League win at Manchester City with a 3-1 loss at Real Sociedad last weekend, but Iniesta says coach Gerardo Martino has the team's full support despite erratic results of late.
Sapa-AP