The world’s highest paid football player, Samuel Eto’o, may be facing up to five years in a Spanish prison over tax fraud allegations.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Eto’o allegedly concealed over €3.5 million from the country’s treasury, while he was playing for FC Barcelona between 2006 and 2009.
The Cameroonian received the money from the Catalan club and major German sportswear manufacturer, Puma, but reportedly declared different sources of income – from firms in Spain and Hungary – in order to reduce tax payments.
If the 31-year-old is found guilty he’s at risk of spending from one to five years in prison and paying a fine more than six times higher than the sum he allegedly tried to hide.
Eto’o joined Anzhi Makhachkala from Inter Milan last summer, becoming the highest paid footballer on the planet.
The striker is being paid over €20 million annually by the side from Russia’s republic of Dagestan in a three year deal.
