Messi relaxed about tax issues, Neymar
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, July 18, 2013
Lionel Messi is not worried about solving his tax problems or about the arrival of Brazil star Neymar at Barcelona.
"I'm very relaxed," Messi said yesterday, adding he was at a distance from financial matters.
"My dad and I have our advisers who handle these things and we trust them. I hope it gets solved. I don't understand any of this and that's why we have lawyers."
Messi, one of the world's highest-paid sportsmen, and his father Jorge have been ordered by a Spanish court to appear before a judge in September over allegations that they defrauded the Spanish tax office of 4 million euros (US$5.3 million).
Messi is rated by Forbes magazine as the world's 10th highest-paid athlete after reportedly earning US$41.3 million to June this year, with US$20.3 million coming from his club salary and US$21 million in endorsements.
Spain's state prosecutor alleges Messi and his father used shell companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on revenues from image rights.
Messi also welcomed the arrival of Neymar, who was "a great player" who will have no problem adapting to Barcelona. "He's going to make a difference," Messi said.
He said Neymar was the type of player who can unsettle opponents in one-on-one situations, and would give the team a lot.
"We won't have problems off the field either," Messi said, adding, "he's a good guy."
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