Record transfer from Neymar to PSG: justice questions possible tax advantage

Le transfert de Neymar au PSG aurait été possible grâce à un avantage fiscal. MAXPPP – Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium

L'ex-vice-président macroniste de l'Assemblée nationale Hugues Renson est suspecté de trafic d'influence.

Justice wonders if the former Macronist vice-president of the National Assembly Hugues Renson tried to obtain "tax advantages& ;quot; for PSG during the transfer of Brazilian striker Neymar from Barcelona in 2017, the most expensive in history.

These suspicions, on which the investigation is only just beginning, are part of an investigation carried out since September 2022 by investigating magistrates around influence operations attributed to the club's former communications director, Jean-Martial Ribes, 57 years old.

Jean-Martial Ribes is also suspected

Indicted on December 1 for a string of offenses, Mr. Ribes is suspected of having used his position to obtain sensitive information for the club as well as advantages personal for his family, all in exchange for rewards such as goodies and tickets to PSG matches.

In a new investigation report sent on November 21 to the investigating magistrate, revealed Tuesday by Libération and consulted Wednesday by AFP, the IGPN wonders about a possible ' quot;influence peddling" involving Mr. Renson. According to this report covering ten years of messages with him found in Mr. Ribes's phone, the former "dircom" has "requested(…) unequivocally (…) services" of the one who was advisor to Jacques Chirac at the Elysée.

In return, the one who now works for EDF applied to PSG "several times", and "benefited from numerous places at matches" of the club or other benefits, including between 2017 and 2022 during his delegation. Key moment at the end of July 2017, the negotiations around the arrival at PSG of the Brazilian football superstar Neymar after the payment to FC Barcelona of the release clause of 222 million euros.

"Nothing bad"

Mr. Renson then engaged, according to the report, in intense exchanges with Mr. Ribes but also Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the Qatari boss of PSG. The former vice-president of the National Assembly said on July 24 that he relayed to Gérald Darmanin, then Minister of Public Accounts, a "PSG subject" which seems to be the taxation of the transfer, an issue weighing on millions of euros.

Mr. Renson reassures his interlocutors: Mr. Darmanin "works there". The next day, he seemed to interfere so that the PSG was present at an ad hoc meeting of the ministry, then the day after, he wrote again to the dircom: Gérald Darmanin "considers that it's good (…) . What matters is that the documents we mentioned are produced. They will protect.

At the time, the minister publicly rejoiced at the taxes that Neymar (was) going to be able to pay in France, and guaranteed that his services would closely analyze the financial package of the transfer. On August 3, the historic deal worth 222 million euros was concluded and announced. The next day, according to the report, "Mr. Renson thanks Mr. Ribes" who would have allowed his two sons to accompany the PSG players to the Parc when they entered the field for the resumption of Ligue 1.

The investigation into the fiscal conditions of this giant release clause and the possible intervention of Mr. Renson begins. "We don't know what was ultimately done" fiscally, notes a source close to the matter. According to a source close to the negotiations, there is nothing wrong with a company approaching a government to discuss the tax treatment of a company. an important transaction.

Four people indicted

When contacted on Wednesday, neither Mr. Renson, nor the PSG, nor the cabinet of Mr. Darmanin nor that of the current Minister of Public Accounts, Thomas Cazenave, reacted . According to the report, a collaborator of the sports unit of the Elysée, Charlotte Casasoprana, also obtained benefits from PSG while facilitating administrative procedures for Mr. Ribes' family. "My client refuses, as it stands, to make any comments, knowing nothing about this case and the facts that concern her", indicated her lawyer, Me Pascal Garbarini.

To date, four people besides Mr. Ribes are indicted by the courts: three former police officers and a lobbyist, Tayeb Benabderrahmane. Sentenced to death in Qatar after detention in early 2020 in that country, he filed a complaint in France, which gave rise to a separate investigation. "These revelations demonstrate exactly what Mr. Benabderrahmane has been denouncing since the start of this procedure, namely collusion at the highest level between Qatar and the government of our country", reacted Me Romain Ruiz, lawyer of the lobbyist.

"This is a non-issue for Mr. Ribes who did not participate in any meeting related to the economic issues of the transfer", indicated his counsel, Me Romain Vanni.