Barcelona president Bartomeu faces trial for Neymar deal

Spain’s National court has confirmed that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu will stand trial for his role in signing Brazilian star Neymar.

Bartomeu’s appeal was rejected on Thursday and the court said the deal altered ‘the free market of football players by preventing the player from entering the market in accordance with the rules of free competition, reports Sport.

Bartomeu, who was vice president to Sandro Rosell when the deal took place in 2013, faces corruption and fraud charges after Brazilian investment company DIS lodged a complaint against the deal.

Bartomeu had "management responsibilities" which were equivalent to then President Sandro Rosell, the court report added.

Rosell and Bartomeu are both said to have participated in fraudulent contracts in 2011 without informing Santos or the Brazilian investment fund DIS -- who owned 40 per cent of Neymar's rights and have brought the complaint to court, Sport concluded.