Neymar will not stand against Barcelona in court on Friday after both parties agreed to ask for the case over an unpaid loyalty bonus to be delayed, sources have told ESPN FC.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward arrived in Barcelona on Thursday, where, along with his father, he met with the Catalan club’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu.
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The meeting followed days of discussions between Barca representatives and Neymar’s lawyers and sources have told ESPN FC that there was a positive outcome.
There is still no agreement on how to settle the case, but there is a desire for everything to be settled in a friendly manner. Talks between the two parties will continue with the hope of reaching a resolution without having to go to court.
In the meantime, therefore, Barca will refer to Article 83.1 of the Law regulating social jurisdiction in Spain with the hope of postponing the trial until next year.
The Spanish champions and Neymar are in dispute regarding a payment related to the contract he signed with the club in 2016.
He was paid an initial €14 million when he signed the terms but was due an additional €26m on July 31, 2017, just four days before his world-record €222m transfer to Paris Saint-Germain was made official.
Barca refused to make the payment, though, depositing the money with a notary at first as they awaited the outcome of the forward’s switch to PSG, arguing that “the agreed conditions [had] not been met.”
Barcelona subsequently sued Neymar for breach of contract, claiming they are also owed money which the player was paid as the first part of his bonus when he signed a new deal at Camp Nou in 2016. They are also claiming €8.5m in damages plus interest.
The case was originally due to be heard in January, but was postponed until March and then until September before this latest delay.
During that time, the relationship between Barcelona and Neymar, which deteriorated when he quit for PSG, has improved. The Blaugrana even tried to re-sign him this summer, but failed to come to an agreement with the French champions over a deal.
Neymar had told PSG that he wanted to leave and that his desire was to return to Barcelona, where he previously spent four years between 2013 and 2017 after joining from Santos.