Barcelona Faces Accusations of Tax Evasion in Player Transfer Deal

Barcelona is under scrutiny for allegedly dodging taxes linked to a €10 million payment concerning services that may not have occurred, tied to the acquisition of a Brazilian player who flopped after being signed for €42 million.

Findings from Investigations

Reports from El Periodico and findings from the Mossos d’Esquadra (the Catalan police) indicate that discrepancies have been uncovered in the €42 million transaction involving the signing of Malcom from Bordeaux that took place in 2018.

Allegations of Misrepresentation

Investigators claim that the club transferred €10 million to Business Futbol España (BFE) for what were described as “intermediation services,” which are alleged to either have not happened at all or were grossly overpriced.

Financial Maneuvers

Between 2018 and 2020, the payments were structured in a way that purportedly aimed to obscure tax obligations by altering the player’s initial employment contract with the club.

Impact on Tax Liabilities

According to police findings, the adjustments made to the contract resulted in a reduction of reported income, which in turn enabled the club to bypass tax obligations linked to the transfer, raising further concerns about financial transparency.