Diego Costa Sentenced To 6 months In Prison

opera.com

Jun 4, 2020 3:43 PM

Costa began his football career in his native Brazil before joining Braga in Portugal in 2006, aged 17. He never played for the club but spent time on loan at Penafiel, and signed with Atlético Madrid the following year. Over the next two seasons he had loan periods with Braga, Celta Vigo and Albacete. His form earned him a move to fellow La Liga club Real Valladolid in 2009, where he spent one season, finishing as their top goalscorer, before returning to Atlético Madrid. Costa struggled to maintain a regular starting role with Atlético, and spent more time on loan, this time at Rayo Vallecano, where he finished as the club's highest scorer that season.

Diego Costa has been handed a six-month prison sentence

- The Atletico Madrid striker was found guilty of evading tax payments

- He was accused of defrauding the state of more than £900,000 by not declaring some earnings

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa has been handed a six-month prison sentence following tax fraud in Spain, but the former Chelsea striker will have to part with €36,000 fine to avoid any jail time.

Costa was found guilty of evading tax fee of about £900,000 (€1million) from money earned by image rights.

Top Spanish outlet El Mundo are reporting that the Brazilian striker pleaded guilty to a tax offence amounting to €1.1m.

He was said to have defrauded the state of more than £900,000 by not declaring payments of more than €5.15m (£4.63m) after his move to Chelsea in 2014.

The tax agency denounced Costa for defrauding the authorities regarding €1m (£890,000) in image rights.