Barcelona’s Adriano investigated for alleged tax fraud

Defender Adriano has joined the list of Barcelona players to be probed by Spain’s prosecutors for alleged tax fraud.
Prosecutor Ricardo Sanz-Gadea says in a writ issued on Wednesday that Adriano has defrauded Spain’s tax authorities of €646,086 ($742,900).
Sanz-Gadea says Adriano failed to declare income linked to his image rights between 2011 and 2012.
Although the prosecutor acknowledges that the Brazilian has responded and paid the amount outstanding on March 7, a judge must now decide whether to take the case to court.
Adriano joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2010.
Other Barcelona players to fall foul of Spain’s tax authorities include star forward Lionel Messi and Argentina defender Javier Mascherano.
Messi is due to appear in court on June 7 with his father Jorge as a co-defendant.