The Barcelona and Argentina star is suspected of avoiding huge payments on image rights, which has led to the opening of an official probe in Catalunya.
Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano is being investigated of avoiding 1.5 million euros ($1.7M) in tax charges, Catalunya legal authorities have announced.
The Argentine is alleged to have omitted income earned from image rights in his tax declarations in 2011 and 2012 by using third parties located in an offshore tax haven.
Earlier in September, Mascherano opted to pay back €1.5 million to the Spanish Treasury, plus €200,000 in interest, according to the EFE news agency, once the investigation became public knowledge.