SAO PAULO: Neymar is back in the thick of a distracting dispute with the Brazilian tax system after a court in Sao Paulo froze $50m of assets including a yacht and a private jet.

Last week the court turned down an appeal from the Barcelona and Brazil striker, his family and business associates against a ruling that they had avoided paying $16m in tax between 2011 and 2013 when he was playing for Santos.

Neymar, 23, still has further appeal options.

Simultaneously he remains at the centre of a Spanish court case concerning allegations of tax evasion by Barcelona over his multi-million transfer to the world, European and Spanish champions in 2013.

Originally Barcelona claimed the deal cost the club €57.1m. with Santos receiving €17.1m and the remaining €40m going to a company owned by Neymar’s father, Neymar Santos. Later investigations showed that Barcelona spent nearly €83.3m.

All deny wrongdoing.

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