Catalan football giants FC Barcelona took legal action against their former star Neymar, demanding 8.5 million euros ($10 million) over what they called breach of contract.
The club also demanded that Neymar pay back the sum he received when he extended his contract last year, given that the Brazil forward has now paid his 222 million euros ($261 million) buy-out clause to join Paris Saint-Germain.
"The club demands from Neymar Jr the amount already paid for the renewal premium due to breach of contract, in addition to 8.5 million euros in damages and an additional 10 per cent in arrears," FC Barcelona said in a statement.
Barcelona said they had sent the Royal Spanish Football Federation the lawsuit against Neymar that they submitted on August 11 to a court in Barcelona so it could pass it on "to the appropriate authorities in the French Football Federation and FIFA", Barcelona said in a statement.
"The club also requests Paris Saint-Germain take on responsibility for the payment of these fees if the player cannot do so himself," it said.
PSG brushed off that suggestion and said they had done all that was required of them. "Paris Saint-Germain reiterates that, like Neymar Jr., it has always respected all applicable laws and rules in its dealings and, once again, regrets the attitude of FC Barcelona," the club said in a statement.
Neymar, who joined PSG earlier this month after the French club triggered his 222 million euros release clause, said he was surprised by the decision but warned he was not going to give in. "It is noteworthy that this news was received with surprise, since the athlete completely fulfilled the contract then in force, with the full deposit of the amounts set out in the buy-out clause freely agreed with F.C. Barcelona for his release," Neymar's representatives said in a statement.
The statement added that the 25-year-old forward's lawyers were preparing a formal defence to the demands. PSG activated Neymar's release clause as Barcelona were unwilling to negotiate the sale of one of their best players.
In the days after he signed for the French club, Barcelona refused to pay the reported 26 million euro instalment of the loyalty bonus which he was due to receive this summer, citing breach of contract. On Sunday, Neymar criticised the Barcelona board after helping PSG beat Toulouse in Ligue 1. "I am disappointed with them (Barcelona directors). I spent four very happy years there and left happy, but not with them. For me they shouldn't be in charge of Barcelona. Barca deserve much better and everyone knows this," Neymar had said.
