Former Barcelona star Arda Turan has received a one-year prison sentence after he was convicted of tax fraud in Spain.
Turan has been found guilty of committing two counts of tax fraud in 2015 and 2016, resulting in a fine of €630,000 (£583607/$684,000). However, the sentence has been suspended since first-time offenders in Spain can choose to suspend the prison term if it is less than two years.
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Turan’s career trajectory saw him join Barcelona in 2015 from Atletico Madrid, where he had established himself as a prominent figure in the midfield. During his tenure at Barcelona, Turan made significant contributions to the team’s performance before being loaned out to Basaksehir in January 2018. Subsequently, he transitioned to Galatasaray, where he concluded his professional career upon retirement in 2022.
The case against Turan underscores a broader trend of tax-related legal challenges faced by notable figures in football. Over the past decade, Spanish tax officials have targeted several soccer stars, including luminaries such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jose Mourinho, for alleged tax evasion or fraud. Despite the severity of the accusations, none of these individuals have served time in prison.
The charges against Turan highlight the scrutiny faced by high-profile athletes regarding their tax obligations, with Spanish authorities frequently cracking down on instances of financial misconduct within the sports industry.
