The investigation into the work carried out by the “parallel cell” at Paris Saint-Germain is expanding. The French justice system is scrutinizing the payment of the release clause in the transfer of Neymar in the summer of 2017. According to Libération, the investigation is based on a nine-page report from the Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN) that was presented to the investigating judges in Paris on November 21. Neymar’s move from FC Barcelona to PSG for €222 million is at the center of the probe.
The investigators suspect that the former director of communication, Jean-Martial Ribes, who has already been charged with corruption and influence peddling, may have pressured the government to obtain tax benefits on the player’s €222 million release clause. This was to ensure that it would not be subject to social security contributions and income tax, so that the amount payable would not increase for the Parisian club.
Based on hundreds of messages from Jean-Martial Ribes’ phone, investigators believe he communicated directly with Hugues Renson, a former Macronist deputy and vice-president of the National Assembly. The politician may have been in direct contact with Gérald Darmanin, the former Minister of Public Accounts who is now the Minister of the Interior, mentioned in the investigation to meet the demands of the Parisian leaders.
The investigation, which is still in its early stages, aims to determine the roles played by Jean-Martial Ribes, the top PSG officials, and Gérald Darmanin in this matter. It also seeks to determine whether public finances were impacted by these actions.
