The holding midfielder owed over a million pounds
FC Barcelona star Javier Mascherano has been charged with two counts of tax fraud by the Spanish authorities.
The Argentina international defrauded these authorities of £435,559.84 in 2011 and £717,933.84 in 2012, totalling to over £1.1 million pound.
The prosecutor’s office have since confirmed that Mascherano has paid back the debts, including added interest of approximately £150,000.
Spanish media outlets have admitted that the 31-year olds repayment, plus the interest racked up, could work in his favour if he is found guilty.
Image rights are the source
It is believed that after Mascherano moved to the Camp Nou from Liverpool in 2010, he began concealing earnings from his image rights by using companies that are set-up in the United States of America and Portugal.
Neither Mascherano or Barcelona football club have publicly commented on the matter.
He follows in the footsteps of his club and international teammate Lionel Messi, who was in a similar case involving image rights money.
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