MADRID, Jan 9 — Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, accused of tax fraud, has paid Spanish fiscal authorities close to €1 million (RM4.7 million), a judicial source said today.

Prosecutors believe the Croatian evaded €870,728 on revenue from his image rights in 2013 and 2014 via a shell company set up in Luxembourg.

Today, he gave a court in Alcobendas near Madrid, which is in charge of his case, evidence that he paid tax authorities close to €1 million on January 4 — the sum he allegedly evaded plus interest.

The 32-year-old Croat, who joined Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £30 million (RM162.8 million) in 2012, paid the money “voluntarily,” the judicial source, who refused to be named, told AFP.

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Judicial authorities are still investing financial holdings belonging to the player in the Isle of Man, on which Modric refused to comment in court.

Modric is just the latest in a series of star players based in Spain to be accused of tax fraud on income related to image rights in the past few years.

In November, Madrid left-back Marcelo admitted to a 490,917 euro tax fraud via his image rights in 2013.

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Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in court in July over accusations he evaded €14.7 million worth of tax between 2011 and 2014.

Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano received 21-month and one-year suspended sentences respectively after being found guilty of tax fraud over their image rights in 2016.

However, five-time World Player of the Year Messi’s sentence was later replaced by a €252,000 fine. — AFP