Court Sentences Alexis Sanchez To 16 Months In Prison

A Spanish court has handed a 16-month prison sentence to Chilean star, Alexis Sanchez for tax related offences during his time at Barcelona.

The 29-year-old will however not be imprisoned as he has agreed to pay the money he owes with interest.

Sanchez was accused of defrauding the treasury of €1 million between 2012 and 2013, relating to income from his image rights but has reached an agreement with the prosecutor to pay the money he owes with interest.

Being a first offender and with the sentence less than two years, the Chilean will not spend time in prison according to provisions of the Spanish law.

Alexis Sanchez joined Manchester United from Arsenal in January in a swap deal which saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to the other side.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and Ricardo Carvalho have all had similar cases in recent times.

However, Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, who was accused of owing €14.7m has protested his innocence in the ongoing case.