Barcelona's Javier Mascherano has admitted to defrauding the Spanish taxpayers of over €1.5M.

The Argentine international entered a guilty plea today during a brief court appearance after authorities accused him of failing to declare his full earnings in 2011 and 2012, claiming that he had used companies registered abroad to try and hide the money.

The former Liverpool midfielder has paid back €1..75M, which is the full amount with added interest, and could avoid a jail sentence, with a fine the potential punishment.

Mascherano joined Barcelona in 2010 and has since gone on to win two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles with the club, while also being a central cog in the Argentina team which reached last year's World Cup final.