Bartomeu to Ruz: "Tito asked us to sign Neymar a year earlier"

Cadena SER have disclosed a video of the interrogation of Josep Maria Bartomeu by Judge Ruz on Feburay 13, 2015 in which the Barça president confirms that the signing of Neymar by the club was a request by the the then first team coach, Tito Vilanova.

In the video and audio clips which Cadena SER made public today, Bartomeu on three occasions, attributes the signing of the Brazilian player to Vilanova.

Why did you decide to bring forward the signing of Neymar? “We spoke to our coach, who at that time was Tito Vilanova, and he asked me and the then president, if we could bring forward the signing of Neymar by one year as he felt that the team needed a player with his characteristics. He wanted to make the signing in 2013 instead of bringing him over in the summer of 2014. The plan for the Neymar was to finish the World Cup in Brazil and then move to Barcelona but we wanted to carry out the wishes of the coach. Sandro Rosell, had a good relationship with his father, spoke to him and we saw how they’d forged a deal to bring him to Barcelona a year ahead of what was originally scheduled”.

"Tito requested that reinforce the defence and forward line. He requested a center back and Neymar as the forward. The coaches don’t get involved in the price of players. He told us that he only had one match changing player and wasn’t interested in keeping David Villa. He wanted Villa to leave and that we sign Neymar as a striker. If Neymar coming wasn’t realistic we’d stick with David Villa who had another year left to run on his contract. We understood the needs of the coach, this happened in New York in February 2013. He was receiving treatment there for a six week period and confirmed to us: 'I want this change, one striker for another".

He singled out Rosell as they key figure in the deal:

Who closed the deal? “In this case as it was a Brazilian player and as Sandro lived there , he knew the market well, so it was Sandro Rosell who dealt in all negotiation with Neymar’s father”.

Did you get involved with any negotiation with Santos or Neymar’s father? “No, no. At no point”.

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