MADRID • Manchester United star forward Alexis Sanchez has struck a deal with Spanish authorities to accept a 16-month suspended jail sentence for tax fraud in return for avoiding a trial.

Sanchez, who joined United from Arsenal last month, faced being tried over a €1 million (S$1.6 million) tax fraud linked to image rights in 2012 and 2013 during his time at Barcelona, according to details of the deal seen by AFP.

The Chilean, 29, appeared in court via a video link last month and pleaded guilty to concealing part of the amount he earned while he was with the LaLiga giants.

He evaded payments totalling around €983,443 and has now agreed to pay back all that he owed, along with interest, to the Spanish treasury.

According to Spanish law, first-time offenders whose prison terms do not exceed two years will not be liable to serve time in jail.

This is not the first time a high-profile footballer has been prosecuted by the Spanish courts for tax evasion.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month jail sentence in 2016 for evading €4.1 million on image rights - but that was altered to a €252,000 fine last year.

Javier Mascherano, formerly Messi's team-mate at Barca, was given a one-year prison term for evading more than €1.5 million.

That was also changed to a €800,000 fine in 2016.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Angel di Maria was sentenced to one year in prison last year for evading about €1.3 million.

The Argentinian agreed to pay a total of €2 million in back taxes and fines for his offence.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE