BARCELONA: Yet another of Barcelona’s foreign players has fallen foul of the taxman – in the wake of cases against Lionel Messi, Neymar and Javier Mascherano.

Latest alleged culprit is the world, European and Spanish champions’ Brazilian defender Adriano. He has been charged by prosecutors in the Catalan city of an alleged evasion of €700,000.

The player has been charged with using a front company to bank payments for image rights during his move from Sevilla in 2010.

According to court papers, Adriano used an offshore company registered in Madeira, Portugal, to avoid paying tax on the rights image payments between 2011 and 2012.

Investigation

Last October Adriano was put under investigation by the Spanish tax authorities which authorised the court action.

Last December Mascherano, Barcelona’s Argentinian defender, settled an accusation of tax evasion in the sum of €1.5m. He paid a fine of €800,000 to avoid a 12-month jail sentence.

Xabi Alonso, now at Bayern Munich, faces similar action dating back to his time with Real Madrid. He is accused of evading €3m.

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