Barcelona did not break any rules by negotiating with Neymar. Despite the fact the Brazilian still had time to run on his contract with Santos, the Blaugrana complied with FIFA’s rules (which prevent clubs negotiating with players who have more than six months on their contract) because they had the permission of the Brazilian club.

On Thursday, SPORT had access to a document which shows that the then president of Santos, Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro, granted Neymar the right to negotiate his future with Barça. In this document, which is dated Nov. 8 2011, de Oliveira says that “we expressly inform that Santos authorise the athlete Neymar to start, from now, negotiations with any sporting entity, national or international, with regards to an eventual transfer.”

This document, signed by de Oliveira, dismisses the theory that Barcelona had ignored FIFA’s rules, as the new board at Santos, who want to get more money, have suggested. This theory also hits claims made by DIS, an investment company who owned part of Neymar’s rights and have lodged a complaint against the player, his father, former Barça president Sandro Rosell and current president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

In fact, FC Barcelona have already offered this document in their defence at the National Court.