Modric latest Real Madrid player with tax issues

Madrid: The Regional Prosecutor in Madrid has charged Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric with tax avoidance, the Spanish press reported.

Modric is accused of defrauding €290,990 (Dh1.26 million) in 2013 and a further €579,738 in 2014 through the creation of a company in Luxembourg called Ivano SARL to manage his earnings through image rights.

However, treasury sources reported that the fraud could be greater given that they are also investigating further possible interests of the player in the Isle of Man.

The news came just 24 hours after Real Madrid’s Brazilian defender Marcelo accepted charges of tax fraud against him to the tune of slightly less than €500,000.

Modric is the latest in a long line of current or former Real Madrid players, such as Xabi Alonso, Iker Casillas, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao, Angel de Maria and former coach Jose Mourinho, who have had problems with their taxes, while Cristiano Ronaldo is currently involved in an ongoing case, which could see him sent to prison if found guilty.