Javier Mascherano, the Barcelona defender involved in tax evasion case, has been sentenced to a year in jail. He was also slapped with €800,000 or $870,000 in fine and charges for legal costs.

The footballer appeared before the court on Thursday, Jan. 21. It was a short hearing since the decision on his tax fraud case has been finalized already.

Then again, despite the imprisonment punishment, Mascherano is not expected to be put behind bars to serve his jail term. This is because in Spain, prison terms that are less than two years are not strictly imposed. Plus, he already settled his unpaid taxes including the €200,000 interest, Reuters UK reported.

The 32-year-ol Barcelona midfielder accepted the judgment as part of his guilty plea bargain deal. The plea was also the reason why he got a lighter punishment.

On his Twitter account, the player personally admitted his plea deal with the court. He explained how his tax evasion case happened.

"After agreeing to come to Barcelona, I hired a prestigious Spanish tax firm, with renowned professionals and an excellent reputation," he tweeted.

"In agreement with my situation, they recommended certain structures to me, all within the legal framework, always notifying me that the procedures were common, transparent and in accordance with the law," his continued.

Mascherano further said that the Spanish accounting firm had worked for him from 2010 to 2014.

"I was advised by said professionals from the year 2010 until 2014, when I decided to change firms before the process was opened against me and with evidence that my problem was no longer a possibility but a reality," he added.

Moreover, he hinted that he will be suing the accounting company that incorrectly assessed and gave him bad advice regarding his finances. The football player further expressed relief that his case has finally come to an end.

"Finally, after a long wait this agreement has arrived which allows me to relax again and go about my daily life."

At the end of his statement, the sportsman reiterated that his tax evasion trouble was unintentional because he relied on people to do the accounting works for him.

"All my career I have been an honest and responsible person... I will take this experience that has accosted me as another experience which I will leave stronger and calmed by the fact that I am once again within the law," Mascherano stated.

In related news, his teammate Lionel Messi is also facing tax fraud charges in connection with unpaid taxes for the years 2007 to 2009. Messi's tax debt already reached €4.2 million. He and his father Jorge Messi are due to appear in court from May 31 to June 3.