Neymar has been ordered to pay former club Barcelona £6.1 million (€6.7m) after the Paris Saint-Germain forward lost a lawsuit over an unpaid bonus.
The La Liga champions confirmed in a statement on Friday that the Brazil forward’s claim to a £39.5 million (€43.6 million) bonus had been “fully dismissed”.
Neymar left the Blaugrana for PSG back in 2017 for a world record fee of £201 million (€222m) but pursued a court ruling concerning the terms of the last contract he signed at the Nou Camp a year earlier.
The 28-year-old had been linked with a return to the Nou Camp over the last year with a move close last summer, but the court ruling appears to have now ended any potential future move.
A club statement read: “Barcelona expresses its satisfaction with the verdict announced today in relation to the lawsuit involving FC Barcelona and the player Neymar Jr regarding the amount of the signing bonus in the final renewal of the player’s contract.
“The ruling has fully dismissed the player’s claim for payment of 43.6 million euros, and has accepted a large part of the defence presented by FC Barcelona, as a result of which the player must return 6.7 million euros to the club.
“Since the player’s representative is entitled to appeal this decision, the club shall continue to fervently defend its legitimate interests.”
The Santos academy graduate has two years remaining on his contract in the French capital.
Neymar will hope to play a part in PSG’s efforts to break through and claim a maiden Champions League title.
Injury prevented Neymar’s involvement in the knock-out stages of PSG’s last two campaigns.
Though a last 16 victory over Borussia Dortmund, which saw Neymar score in the second-leg comeback at the Parc des Princes, has galvinised Thomas Tuchel’s group.
Though Ligue 1 has been ended prematurely due to coronavirus, which will mean PSG are unable to play competitive matches before the last eight, which will resume on 12 August as part of an innovative mini-tournament in Lisbon.
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