Barcelona Club avoided trial by paying 5.5 million euro fine

As he prepares to stand trial on fraud charges, Neymar has maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing in his 2013 transfer to Barcelona.

Spanish prosecutors have accused the Brazil star and his father of embellishing the true figure of his 57 million euro switch to the Camp Nou as part of an alleged scam involving investors DIS, who own 40 per cent of player's rights.

"I am not a criminal and neither is my father," said Neymar.

"I don't know if it's because of a lack of information or malicious people, but there is a hunt for controversy [into the signing].

"I trust my father completely, he deals with everything in my career outside of sport.

"I am lucky to have him on my side to stay calm."