A Spanish court on Wednesday launched a fraud investigation against Barcelona striker Neymar, a judicial source said, dragging the Brazilian star into a case in which the club's president faces trial.

The National Court admitted a lawsuit alleging "corruption and swindling" by the star player, his father and his former club, Santos, linked to the signing of Neymar by Barca in 2013.

The case has been brought by a Brazilian investment fund, DIS, which owned part of the transfer rights for the player when he was at Santos, the source said.