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On Friday, the attention of the Spanish media shifted to a small municipality of Gava, located near Barcelona, where the trial took place.
As planned, "Barcelona" forward Lionel Messi and his father Jorge visited, dealing with the Spanish tax inspection regarding potentially hidden taxes.
The attention of the investigating officials was drawn to the period from 2006 to 2009. It is believed that a portion of the footballer's income was transferred to companies in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belize, and Uruguay, without paying taxes in Spain.
According to unofficial information, taxes may have been hidden even when the footballer was a minor, and it was not his initiative or intention.
The court session on Friday was closed, and journalists and outsiders were not allowed in.
Leaving the courthouse, L. Messi was in good spirits, but interacted with the media through the lawyer Cristobal Martell, who represented the interests of the footballer and his father in court.
"My clients are of the firm opinion that during the investigation, it is necessary to provide all the necessary information openly and transparently and to cooperate with the investigating officials. These are the instructions I received from the Messi family. The examination of the case materials began today, and we have provided convincing evidence that my client had no intention or desire to hide taxes. There will be no disputes or fights, neither with the tax inspection as an institution, nor with the state itself," the lawyer said.
