Atletico Madrid striker, Diego Costa, has been sentenced to 6 months in prison after he admitted defrauding the tax authorities in Spain.
According to Spanish newspaper, El Mundo, Costa pleaded guilty to a tax offence amounting to €1.1million.
The former Chelsea star was accused of defrauding the treasury of more than £900,000 by not declaring payments of more than €5.15m (£4.63m) after his move to Chelsea in 2014.
The Spanish treasury denounced the 31-year-old for defrauding the authorities regarding €1m (£890,000) in image rights.
The tax agency added another fiscal crime to Costa before withdrawing and halving the fine.
Costa has now agreed to pay €36,000 fine to avoid any jail time.
In another news, Gareth Bale’s agent says the Real Madrid forward is unlikely to return to the Premier League because he wants to finish his career at the Bernabeu.
Bale is believed to have a difficult relationship with Real manager Zinedine Zidane and was almost sold to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning last year.
The former Tottenham star has been linked with a move back to the Premier League on several occasions, with Newcastle the latest club to be mentioned as suitors for the Wales international.
But Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett said the 30-year-old would happily remain in Spain. “He has a very nice lifestyle. I don’t see why he doesn’t see his career out at Madrid, probably,” Barnett told the BBC on Thursday.
“As I’ve always said, he’s quite happy in Madrid. It’s his life that he wants to lead. Financially, he will want for nothing the rest of his life, and his children and grandchildren.”
Bale has won a host of medals, including four Champions League titles, since joining Real for a then world record £85 million ($107 million) in 2013.
But he has rarely been a regular under Zidane and has been criticised by fans and media in Spain for putting more passion into his golf hobby than his Real career. Despite that discord, Bale has no plans to demand a move, according to Barnett. “I have no idea what his value is,” he said.
“His salary is quite high and also where he wants to go is very important in his life. I can’t put a figure on it. “He’s won nearly everything in the world, except the World Cup, but unfortunately he plays for Wales so some things are beyond him.
“So he’s won everything else, to come back and play (in the Premier League) would be unbelievable, a big thing. I don’t think he wants to do that at the moment. He’s quite happy to play at Real Madrid.”
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.