Money Talks! Lionel Messi Pays His Way Out Of Prison Sentence 1

Barcelona have not had the best seasons in Spain last campaign as they failed to lift any of the top flight titles, finishing behind Real Madrid on the points table.

There has not been much for the Barcelona fans to enjoy even after the season as the Catalan giants are yet to add a player to their squad after the end of the previous season.

They have gotten rid of Luis Enrique and have appointed Ernesto Valverde as the head coach for the club for the next season.

The former Atletico Bilbao manager will not look to make some serious changes to the squad but the first good news for the Barca fans this summer does not come in the form of a transfer news.

According to reports today, Argentine star Lionel Messi, has successfully avoided going to prison after his tax allegations.

Money Talks! Lionel Messi Pays His Way Out Of Prison Sentence 2
Image Credit: Getty Images

Tax-Fraud allegations

The 30-year old, who is currently regarded as one of the best players the world of football has seen, was sentenced to a shocking prison sentence almost a year ago.

Messi and his father were found guilty of defrauding the taxman out of £3.59million by hiding earnings from image rights in offshore accounts in both Uruguay and Belize from 2007 to 2009.

He has been on probation since he and his father Jorge were found guilty of three counts of defrauding the Spanish tax authority in July 2016.

He was given a 21-month prison sentence, which was not a problem for Messi or his father, both of who lose their appeals.

But they were out on probation as the Spanish law dictates that first time offenders, with a prison sentence of less than two years, are allowed to serve their time on probation.

Sentence lifted

But the Barcelona man is now free of all such charges and is no more out on probation from the Spanish law.

Money Talks! Lionel Messi Pays His Way Out Of Prison Sentence 3
Image Credit: Getty Images

The 30-year old, who has recently signed a bumper contract in Spain, has exchanged his prison sentence with a hefty fine to be paid to the court of law in Spain.

A Spanish court on Friday ruled that both Lionel Messi and his father are now relieved of their charges after the duo have paid their respective fines for the allegations.

It is reported that the 30-year-old will now pay £221,000 while Jorge will pay £160,000.

However, this has not cleared Messi’s name as it is not proven that he has paid his taxes and not evaded them back in 2016.