French authorities 'raid finance ministry tax offices in investigation into Neymar Jr's blockbuster £200M transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017'... with club alleged to have received 'favourable tax treatment' from government minister

French authorities searched the offices of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance on Monday as part of an investigation into allegations of favours given to Paris Saint-Germain over the £200million transfer of Neymar Jr from Barcelona in 2017, according to reports in France. 

The Brazil international had enjoyed a meteroic spell at the Catalan giants and PSG swooped for the player in what remains a world-record deal - but Neymar was never able to quite replicate the form that inspired the move. 

After five injury-strewn years at Parc des Princes, the 31-year-old made the move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, with his departure, as well as Lionel Messi's to Inter Miami, calling time on a star-studded but ultimately disappointing era for the French champions. 

Neymar's time in Saudi Arabia was almost immediately brought to a halt when the player suffered a significant ACL injury in October, which has sidelined him until the end of the season. 

But in spite of his leaving the club over the summer, Neymar's shadow continues to loom large, with French outlet Mediapart reporting that his initial transfer is under scrutiny as part of a wider investigation into influence peddling that has been ongoing since September 2022. 

Neymar Jr's transfer to PSG from Barcelona is still the most expensive deal in world football

The club's former communications director Jean-Martial Ribes is alleged to have sought the advice of then-vice president of the National Assembly Hugues Renson on potential 'tax advantages' that could be found for the transfer. 

Renson claims to have consulted former Minister of Public Accounts Gerald Darmanin over the possible taxation the deal would undergo. 

Ribes - who is alleged to have used his position at the club to gain sensitive information for both PSG and personal advancement - resigned from his role in 2022. 

Monday's investigation was carried out by France's Central Office for the Fight against Corruption and Fiscal Fraud in the department of the General Directorate of Public Finances, and in the presence of investigating magistrates Vincent Lemonier and Serge Tournaire. 

As part of the investigation, the outlet claims that the office of the directorate's director-general was also searched. 

As per Agence France-Presse, Gerald Darmanin did not wish to comment on the allegations, and the Ministry of the Economy and Finance also declined to comment. 

PSG recorded a seismic loss with the sale of the forward to the Saudi Pro League side, letting him go for around £78m.