Defender Adriano joins list of Barca players probed for tax

MADRID (AP) — 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 Wednesday that Adriano has defrauded Spain's tax authorities of 646,086 euros ($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 be in court for a case that has been scheduled from May 31 to June 3, with his father Jorge appearing as a co-defendant.