Barcelona star Javier Mascherano will reportedly avoid having to serve time in prison despite pleading guilty to tax evasion.

The Argentine admitted to failing to pay tax on an alleged sum of nearly €2m (£1.4m) in October, and paid it back in full upon being charged.

According to Marca, Mascherano reached an agreement with the prosecution regarding the charge and accepted a fine of €816,000 (£589,000) and a one-year suspended prison sentence.

However, the report claims that the former Liverpool midfielder will almost certainly not have to serve that jail time after striking the deal.

The player's trial, due for next month, will still go ahead but it is thought that proceedings will now move along at a far greater pace and with considerably less risk of further punishment for Mascherano.

Written by
Tom Nightingale