Marcelo accepts tax evasion penalty

Real Madrid's Brazilian defender, Marcelo on Tuesday signed an agreement with the Spanish Tax Authority in which he admitted tax evasion during 2013 and accepted a penalty of four months in prison along with having to make a payment of 753,624.90 euros.

The Spanish media reports that the Tax Agency condemned the player for defrauding 490.917.70 euros by ceding his image rights to a Uruguayan 'front company' (Birsen Trade S.A) and that he should have paid over a million euros in tax during 2013.

Marcelo will avoid prison in this case as the four-month sentence he has accepted is below two years, however, he does have a further case pending as he is also accused of tax avoidance for 2011 and 2012.

In this case the total amount of money defrauded is below 120,000 euros and he will have to pay a further fine of around 150,000 euros.

Marcelo is the latest in a long line of Real Madrid players to have tax problems, with former companions such as Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao, Angel De Maria, Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo and former coach Jose Mourinho all accused of tax fraud.