Barcelona have threatened to take legal action, over media allegations that claimed that a company owned by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, will benefit from the club signing Brazil midfielder Paulinho from Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao.
On Monday, Barca agreed a deal worth €40 million for the 29-year-old.
Paulinho will complete a medical and pen a four-year contract at Camp Nou on Thursday. Ahead of the signing ceremony, Barca released a statement to strongly deny an impropriety around the transfer.
A statement released by Barcelona read: “This morning FC Barcelona have requested a retraction [from] the authors of the article, as well as the media outlet that published the story, in which the president of the club, Josep Maria Bartomeu, is accused of having signed the player Paulinho Bezerra as part of a deal which favoured the interests of his company.
“Given the false nature of this news story and the fact that it implies an illegal activity has taken place, if a retraction is not forthcoming both the club and the president as an individual will take the corresponding legal steps.
“These steps will include a specific request for damages incurred with regards to the image of the club.”
The statement added: “FC Barcelona will not tolerate false information to be published which may damage the club or those who form part of said club and it calls for professional responsibility from those who have made use of the story without corroborating the information published.”
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