Alexis Sanchez pleaded guilty to tax fraud in Spain. (PA Wire)

Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez has accepted a 16-month prison sentence after defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of almost €1 million.

The Chilean admitted to evading payments totaling €983,443 (£874,810) in 2012 and 2013 while he was playing for Barcelona.

Sanchez appeared in court via video link in January and pleaded guilty to concealing part of what he earned from image rights during his time at Camp Nou.

The 29-year-old has now been given a 16-month prison suspended sentence, which means he will not serve any time in jail.


Sanchez admitted to avoiding nearly €1m in tax during his time at Barca. (Getty Images)

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Sanchez has also agreed to pay back all of the money, plus interest, to the Spanish treasury.



Sanchez’s former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano have also been prosecuted by the Spanish courts for tax evasion.

Messi was given a 21-month prison sentence in 2016, although that was changed to a €252,000 (£223,000) fine last year.

Lionel Messi’s 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud was reduced to a fine last year. (Reuters)

Mascherano, meanwhile, was given a one-year prison sentence and a €800,000 (£611,000) fine in 2016.

Sanchez completed his move from Arsenal to Manchester United in the January transfer window and has made three appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side.