Former Real Madrid defender sentenced to 7 months in prison for tax evasion

The former Real Madrid midfielder faces seven months in prison and a fine of nearly $170,000 for violating Spanish tax laws.

Carvalho was accused of hiding income from image rights in 2011 and 2012, while playing for Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. This allowed the 39-year-old defender to avoid paying around $640,000 in taxes. Prosecutors had initially sought a one-year prison sentence and a $352,000 fine. But Carvalho pleaded guilty and paid the hidden taxes. The Spanish court reduced his sentence because of his remorse.

However, the Shanghai SIPG player is unlikely to serve a prison sentence. Spanish law rarely imposes prison sentences for non-violent crimes, with sentences of less than two years. Carvalho also has no criminal record, so he is likely to receive a suspended sentence.

Cavarlho pleaded guilty and had his sentence reduced for tax evasion.

In 2016, Messi and his father were convicted of tax evasion of $4.8 million by hiding income from image rights between 2007 and 2009 in foreign accounts (Uruguay and Belize). Messi was sentenced to 21 months in prison, but like Carvalho, he is unlikely to see jail time.

Ronaldo also recently had to appear in court to answer accusations that he had evaded more than $17 million in taxes, nearly four times the amount Messi successfully evaded. But after the hearing, the court has not yet issued a verdict for the Real Madrid star.

Carvalho and Ronaldo are not the first clients of Jorge Mendes to be accused of tax evasion. Previously, Radamel Falcao, Fabio Coentrao, Angel di Maria and coach Jose Mourinho were also accused by the Spanish tax authorities for the same reason. They all have the same representative - the Portuguese super agent.

According to VNE