The Negreira case is heading towards what could be a decisive phase, with the lengthy investigation involving Barcelona now expected to be wrapped up before the end of 2026 and a verdict likely in 2027, according to MARCA.

As previously reported, the judge has turned down Real Madrid’s request to prolong the investigation by a further six months.

Real Madrid had asked for more time to look for additional evidence linked to the alleged offence of sporting corruption, but the judge believes the investigation period already granted is sufficient.

Barcelona are under investigation over the €7.3 million paid by the club between 2001 and 2018 to Negreira and his son, Javier.

There are still a few pending procedural steps before the investigative phase officially comes to an end.

Gerard Lopez is expected to testify in November, while pending appeals and other proceedings are set to be resolved before the end of 2026.

Real Madrid still have the option of appealing the decision rejecting the six-month extension before the Provincial Court. Even so, the current expectation is that the investigation is nearing its definitive conclusion.

Once the remaining procedures are completed, the prosecution and the defence would file their final written conclusions. The case would then move towards a possible trial.

For Barcelona, that would mark a major procedural step after more than three years of investigation and intense public scrutiny.

The next phase may still demand considerable patience. Depending on the sentences being sought, the case would be sent either to a criminal court or to the Provincial Court of Barcelona.

After that, it will be for the court and its workload to decide how quickly a trial date can be fixed.

Autumn 2027 is seen as a realistic timeframe, with October or November currently being mentioned.

The trial itself could run for between one and two weeks, with a verdict expected by the end of 2027.

For Barcelona, this has been a prolonged saga that has brought heavy public attention over recent seasons.

The main development is that the case now seems to be moving away from an open-ended investigation and towards a stage where the allegations can finally be challenged in court.

Barcelona supporters have already seen the Negreira case hang over the club for years. Even under the present timeline, definitive legal clarity may still be more than a year away.

The Catalan club will be eager to put this episode behind them as soon as possible, though it remains to be seen how the matter develops over the next 12 to 15 months.