Messi accused of £3.4million tax fraud
Superstar footballer Lionel Messi is being investigated for an alleged £3.4million tax fraud in Spain. The Barcelona star and his dad, Jorge, are accused of filing fraudulent tax returns from 2006-2009 according to a spokesman for tax crime in Catalonia.
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The 25-year-old, recognised as the best player in the world, is rumoured to earn £250,000-a-week and £13million in endorsements.
Last year the player agreed a new six-year deal with Barcelona worth an estimated £17million-a-year after tax, which will run until 2018.
He revealed his shock at allegations and insisted he had done nothing wrong.
In a statement the Argentine forward hit back saying: "We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities. We are surprised about this news, because we have never committed any infringement.
"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation."
His club has not commented yet.
Messi - who has won the world player of the year title four times - is one of the world’s highest paid footballers.
Any club wanting to buy him would have to shell out an astronomical £320million to include his wages and £210million transfer fee to release him from the Spanish champions, Barcelona.
But due to new tax laws in Spain, Messi's new deal will cost Barca a lot more.
Instead of 24 per cent tax they will now pay up to 52 per cent on Messi's salary which means his wages will increase from £10m a year to £17m.
Last December Messi turned down a monster £460,000-a-week offer to quit Barcelona.