Messi denies involvement in Martino becoming Barca boss

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Lionel Messi insists he had nothing to do with the appointment of Gerardo Martino as Barcelona coach.

Martino said in a press conference on Tuesday night that he was sure fellow Argentinian Messi and his father Jorge had put in a good word for him with the Barcelona hierarchy before the Catalan giants offered him the job.

Both Messi and Martino are from Rosario and Messi has in the past spoken in glowing terms of his compatriot.

However, the four-time Ballon d'Or winner has said he had no influence in Barca's decision.

"I have nothing to do with Martino's signing nor do I have to give any explanations. It was down to president (Sandro) Rosell and the club. I said before that he seemed a good coach, but I don't have to explain anything," he was quoted as saying by AS following Barca's friendly defeat to Bayern Munich.

"I don't know him personally, I've never met him. Not him nor Luis Enrique, the other one they've been talking about.

"I think he's a good signing, he showed at Newell's and with Paraguay what he's capable of. Hopefully he'll be good for us."

Martino, who led Newell's Old Boys to the Argentinian Clausura title last season and guided Paraguay to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup and final of the 2011 Copa America, has agreed a two-year contract with Barca and will be presented on Friday lunchtime.

The 50-year-old replaces Tito Vilanova, who stepped down from the post last Friday as he continues his battle with cancer.

Fabregas denies move from Barca

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona playmaker Cesc Fabregas has described speculation linking him with a move away from the Nou Camp as "absurd".

Fabregas has been in and out of the Barca first team following his return to the Catalan club from Arsenal in 2011 and that has led to reports that several Barclays Premier League clubs might try and tempt the Spain international back to England this summer.

However, the 26-year-old has been keen to stress he sees his future at Barca and re-iterated that stance in an interview with Marca, as he said: "If someone says anything that isn't that I want to play at Barca, it's completely absurd."

He added: "I've always said that I'm happy at Barca. Whoever says that I'm leaving doesn't know me and has never spoken with me nor with my agent, because he knows that I don't want him to talk with other people about me.

"I'm very private and I don't even talk about these things with my family."

Messi denies tax crime allegation

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi denied stunning allegations Wednesday that he and his father engaged in tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million).

The 25-year-old Argentina international and four-time World Player of the year expressed shock at the accusation by Spanish financial crimes prosecutors.

"We are surprised about this news because we have never committed any infringement," the striker said in an English-language statement released on his Facebook account.

"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation," Messi said.

The player said he had just heard of the move against him through the media.

Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi were accused of fiddling the taxes in a legal filing lodged by financial crimes prosecutor Raquel Amado, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

"It is all a mistake, you have to speak about this to the tax experts and lawyers who need to clear it up," the player's father told Spanish sports daily AS.

"I don't understand what is going on. I don't manage these matters, I am resident in Argentina," he said.

The father said he had not spoken to his son about the reports. "I don't need to since it is a mistake. Why would I shock him?"

The allegations were filed in a court in Catalonia, where Messi is resident, but judges could yet refuse to let it proceed, a judicial source told AFP.

If it were to go ahead, it would represent a huge blow to the prestige of Messi, who has long been seen as a more humble figure than most top-class footballers and particularly his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi's achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world, however.

Indeed, the Argentine was ranked 10th amongst Forbes' list of sports stars' incomes this month with an annual $21m from endorsements alone.

The player and his father are accused of three crimes of defrauding the state of taxes related to income from the use of his image from 2006-2009.

The allegations centre on tax declarations made in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The striker and his father aimed to "deceive" the taxman by ceding Messi's image rights to companies based in tax havens such as Belize and Uruguay, the prosecutor's complaint said.

They drew up deals related to his image rights in Britain and Switzerland, ensuring that the income went straight to the tax havens without any tax being paid, it said.

Messi and his father acted with "total opaqueness" towards the Spanish authorities, the filing said.

The complaint lodged with the court in Gava, near Barcelona, accused them of defrauding the state of 1.06 million euros in 2007, 1.57 million euros in 2008, and 1.53 million euros in 2009.

The father was accused of being the brains behind the scheme, allegedly setting it up in 2005 before his son turned 18 on June 24 of that year.

The prosecutor said Messi later agreed with his father's tactics so that he would avoid any taxes on income from the use of his image rights during the period.

The income related to his image rights included contracts with FC Barcelona, Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Kuwait Food Company.

Messi's net income from image rights amounted to 2.56 million euros in 2007, 3.82 million euros in 2008 and 3.80 million euros in 2009, the complaint said.

Messi denies tax crime allegation

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi denied stunning allegations Wednesday that he and his father engaged in tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million).

The 25-year-old Argentina international and four-time World Player of the year expressed shock at the accusation by Spanish financial crimes prosecutors.

"We are surprised about this news because we have never committed any infringement," the striker said in an English-language statement released on his Facebook account.

"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation," Messi said.

The player said he had just heard of the move against him through the media.

Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi were accused of fiddling the taxes in a legal filing lodged by financial crimes prosecutor Raquel Amado, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

"It is all a mistake, you have to speak about this to the tax experts and lawyers who need to clear it up," the player's father told Spanish sports daily AS.

"I don't understand what is going on. I don't manage these matters, I am resident in Argentina," he said.

The father said he had not spoken to his son about the reports. "I don't need to since it is a mistake. Why would I shock him?"

The allegations were filed in a court in Catalonia, where Messi is resident, but judges could yet refuse to let it proceed, a judicial source told AFP.

If it were to go ahead, it would represent a huge blow to the prestige of Messi, who has long been seen as a more humble figure than most top-class footballers and particularly his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi's achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world, however.

Indeed, the Argentine was ranked 10th amongst Forbes' list of sports stars' incomes this month with an annual $21m from endorsements alone.

The player and his father are accused of three crimes of defrauding the state of taxes related to income from the use of his image from 2006-2009.

The allegations centre on tax declarations made in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The striker and his father aimed to "deceive" the taxman by ceding Messi's image rights to companies based in tax havens such as Belize and Uruguay, the prosecutor's complaint said.

They drew up deals related to his image rights in Britain and Switzerland, ensuring that the income went straight to the tax havens without any tax being paid, it said.

Messi and his father acted with "total opaqueness" towards the Spanish authorities, the filing said.

The complaint lodged with the court in Gava, near Barcelona, accused them of defrauding the state of 1.06 million euros in 2007, 1.57 million euros in 2008, and 1.53 million euros in 2009.

The father was accused of being the brains behind the scheme, allegedly setting it up in 2005 before his son turned 18 on June 24 of that year.

The prosecutor said Messi later agreed with his father's tactics so that he would avoid any taxes on income from the use of his image rights during the period.

The income related to his image rights included contracts with FC Barcelona, Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Kuwait Food Company.

Messi's net income from image rights amounted to 2.56 million euros in 2007, 3.82 million euros in 2008 and 3.80 million euros in 2009, the complaint said.

Fabregas denies move from Barca

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona playmaker Cesc Fabregas has described speculation linking him with a move away from the Nou Camp as "absurd".

Fabregas has been in and out of the Barca first team following his return to the Catalan club from Arsenal in 2011 and that has led to reports that several Barclays Premier League clubs might try and tempt the Spain international back to England this summer.

However, the 26-year-old has been keen to stress he sees his future at Barca and re-iterated that stance in an interview with Marca, as he said: "If someone says anything that isn't that I want to play at Barca, it's completely absurd."

He added: "I've always said that I'm happy at Barca. Whoever says that I'm leaving doesn't know me and has never spoken with me nor with my agent, because he knows that I don't want him to talk with other people about me.

"I'm very private and I don't even talk about these things with my family."

Messi denies tax crime allegation

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi denied stunning allegations Wednesday that he and his father engaged in tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million).

The 25-year-old Argentina international and four-time World Player of the year expressed shock at the accusation by Spanish financial crimes prosecutors.

"We are surprised about this news because we have never committed any infringement," the striker said in an English-language statement released on his Facebook account.

"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation," Messi said.

The player said he had just heard of the move against him through the media.

Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi were accused of fiddling the taxes in a legal filing lodged by financial crimes prosecutor Raquel Amado, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

"It is all a mistake, you have to speak about this to the tax experts and lawyers who need to clear it up," the player's father told Spanish sports daily AS.

"I don't understand what is going on. I don't manage these matters, I am resident in Argentina," he said.

The father said he had not spoken to his son about the reports. "I don't need to since it is a mistake. Why would I shock him?"

The allegations were filed in a court in Catalonia, where Messi is resident, but judges could yet refuse to let it proceed, a judicial source told AFP.

If it were to go ahead, it would represent a huge blow to the prestige of Messi, who has long been seen as a more humble figure than most top-class footballers and particularly his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi's achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world, however.

Indeed, the Argentine was ranked 10th amongst Forbes' list of sports stars' incomes this month with an annual $21m from endorsements alone.

The player and his father are accused of three crimes of defrauding the state of taxes related to income from the use of his image from 2006-2009.

The allegations centre on tax declarations made in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The striker and his father aimed to "deceive" the taxman by ceding Messi's image rights to companies based in tax havens such as Belize and Uruguay, the prosecutor's complaint said.

They drew up deals related to his image rights in Britain and Switzerland, ensuring that the income went straight to the tax havens without any tax being paid, it said.

Messi and his father acted with "total opaqueness" towards the Spanish authorities, the filing said.

The complaint lodged with the court in Gava, near Barcelona, accused them of defrauding the state of 1.06 million euros in 2007, 1.57 million euros in 2008, and 1.53 million euros in 2009.

The father was accused of being the brains behind the scheme, allegedly setting it up in 2005 before his son turned 18 on June 24 of that year.

The prosecutor said Messi later agreed with his father's tactics so that he would avoid any taxes on income from the use of his image rights during the period.

The income related to his image rights included contracts with FC Barcelona, Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Kuwait Food Company.

Messi's net income from image rights amounted to 2.56 million euros in 2007, 3.82 million euros in 2008 and 3.80 million euros in 2009, the complaint said.

Fabregas denies move from Barca

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona playmaker Cesc Fabregas has described speculation linking him with a move away from the Nou Camp as "absurd".

Fabregas has been in and out of the Barca first team following his return to the Catalan club from Arsenal in 2011 and that has led to reports that several Barclays Premier League clubs might try and tempt the Spain international back to England this summer.

However, the 26-year-old has been keen to stress he sees his future at Barca and re-iterated that stance in an interview with Marca, as he said: "If someone says anything that isn't that I want to play at Barca, it's completely absurd."

He added: "I've always said that I'm happy at Barca. Whoever says that I'm leaving doesn't know me and has never spoken with me nor with my agent, because he knows that I don't want him to talk with other people about me.

"I'm very private and I don't even talk about these things with my family."

Fabregas denies move from Barca

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona playmaker Cesc Fabregas has described speculation linking him with a move away from the Nou Camp as "absurd".

Fabregas has been in and out of the Barca first team following his return to the Catalan club from Arsenal in 2011 and that has led to reports that several Barclays Premier League clubs might try and tempt the Spain international back to England this summer.

However, the 26-year-old has been keen to stress he sees his future at Barca and re-iterated that stance in an interview with Marca, as he said: "If someone says anything that isn't that I want to play at Barca, it's completely absurd."

He added: "I've always said that I'm happy at Barca. Whoever says that I'm leaving doesn't know me and has never spoken with me nor with my agent, because he knows that I don't want him to talk with other people about me.

"I'm very private and I don't even talk about these things with my family."

Messi denies tax crime allegation

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi denied stunning allegations Wednesday that he and his father engaged in tax fraud worth more than four million euros ($5 million).

The 25-year-old Argentina international and four-time World Player of the year expressed shock at the accusation by Spanish financial crimes prosecutors.

"We are surprised about this news because we have never committed any infringement," the striker said in an English-language statement released on his Facebook account.

"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation," Messi said.

The player said he had just heard of the move against him through the media.

Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi were accused of fiddling the taxes in a legal filing lodged by financial crimes prosecutor Raquel Amado, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

"It is all a mistake, you have to speak about this to the tax experts and lawyers who need to clear it up," the player's father told Spanish sports daily AS.

"I don't understand what is going on. I don't manage these matters, I am resident in Argentina," he said.

The father said he had not spoken to his son about the reports. "I don't need to since it is a mistake. Why would I shock him?"

The allegations were filed in a court in Catalonia, where Messi is resident, but judges could yet refuse to let it proceed, a judicial source told AFP.

If it were to go ahead, it would represent a huge blow to the prestige of Messi, who has long been seen as a more humble figure than most top-class footballers and particularly his Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi's achievements on the field have made him one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world, however.

Indeed, the Argentine was ranked 10th amongst Forbes' list of sports stars' incomes this month with an annual $21m from endorsements alone.

The player and his father are accused of three crimes of defrauding the state of taxes related to income from the use of his image from 2006-2009.

The allegations centre on tax declarations made in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The striker and his father aimed to "deceive" the taxman by ceding Messi's image rights to companies based in tax havens such as Belize and Uruguay, the prosecutor's complaint said.

They drew up deals related to his image rights in Britain and Switzerland, ensuring that the income went straight to the tax havens without any tax being paid, it said.

Messi and his father acted with "total opaqueness" towards the Spanish authorities, the filing said.

The complaint lodged with the court in Gava, near Barcelona, accused them of defrauding the state of 1.06 million euros in 2007, 1.57 million euros in 2008, and 1.53 million euros in 2009.

The father was accused of being the brains behind the scheme, allegedly setting it up in 2005 before his son turned 18 on June 24 of that year.

The prosecutor said Messi later agreed with his father's tactics so that he would avoid any taxes on income from the use of his image rights during the period.

The income related to his image rights included contracts with FC Barcelona, Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Kuwait Food Company.

Messi's net income from image rights amounted to 2.56 million euros in 2007, 3.82 million euros in 2008 and 3.80 million euros in 2009, the complaint said.