Courtroom to pose problems this week for FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona face what promises to be a difficult week although this time the problems won't be faced on a football pitch, but in the courtroom.

Although Barca will play Valencia on Wednesday in the first leg of their King's Cup semi-final, the biggest problems are likely to come when striker Neymar and club President, Josep Maria Bartomeu, along with his predecessor, Sandro Rossell are called to give evidence in an investigation over Neymar's transfer to Barca from Brazilian side, Santos in 2013.

Spanish Prosecutors filed for action to be taken against them after complaints of fraud by Brazilian investment fund, DIS, which had held 40 percent of Neymar's rights.

Although Barca publicized the deal cost them 57.1 million euros (just over 62 million US dollars), Santos received just 17.1 million, and Spanish authorities believe that the inclusion of incentive clauses (which were easy for the player to fulfil) in the deal took its true value to over 83 million euros.

The Spanish Treasury believes that if this is the case then they have been defrauded out of 12.7 million euros.

Bartomeu is due to appear in court on Monday, while 23-year-old Neymar is due to attend on Tuesday.

Meanwhile a separate lawsuit in 2015 saw a judge order Bartomeu, Rosell and Barcelona FC itself to stand trial over tax fraud with a sentence of almost 7 years requested for Rosell, who resigned in 2014 over the allegations, and a sentence of just over two years for Bartomeu, along with a fine for the club.

Meanwhile doubts remain over whether or not Neymar will sign a new contract with Barcelona with his current deal due to expire in the summer of 2018. Some believe his fiscal problems may lead to him and his father (who represents him) seeking a lucrative new deal elsewhere. Enditem