Messi: I never look at the contracts, I don't know what I sign

The newspaper El Periodico has had access to the statement made by Barcelona player Lionel Messi in his tax fraud case. Messi and his father, Jorge Messi, will appear in court this week in Barcelona. 

They stand accused of defrauding the Tax Office to the sum of 4.1 million euros between the years of 2007 and 2009. In the case of Messi, the Barça player is only accused by the State, who are asking that he and his father serve a sentence of 22 and half a months in prison (seven months and 15 days for each of the three crimes against the Public Tax Office) in addition to a fine. 

As explained by El Periodico in their report, the public prosecutor Raquel Amado, in contrast, excuses the Argentine forward and is only asking for 18 months in prison for Jorge Messi, who has been made responsible for the management of his son's business. As for the defence, they are pushing for the acquittal of both father and son. 

El Periodico has had access to the footballer's statement made before a judge in 2013. "I trust my dad, who is in charge of my things, and who tells me what I do," the Barcelona forward said. 

LEO MESSI'S STATEMENT 

From here we reproduce fragments of Messi's statement. At the time he was accompanied by his then lawyer Cristobal Martell (now he is defended by Enrique Bacigalupo). According to El Periodico, before the interrogation began, Messi was informed of his rights, among them the possiblity to say nothing and to not confess guilt. After that he was asked: "Are you going to declare?". "Yes," he responded. 

At the beginning, the judge went through the complaint and detailed what was being accused of Messi. Then the first question came. It was direct. "Who is in charge of taxation and financial matters?"

-Messi: My family, my mum, my dad.

-Judge: When you sign a document, do you read its contents? 

-M: No.

-J: Why do you sign it? Because they say to? 

-M: I trust my dad, who is in charge of my things, and who tells me what I do.

Messi is then asked if he can speak louder. He nods. A number of companies are then listed which were supposedly created to avoid paying taxes in Spain. Messi is asked if he was a director, partner or shareholder in them. The player responds "No". 

-J: With respect to the companies, what do you know? 

-M: Even though I hear about all of that, I don't understand anything. 

-J: I'm going to show you a contract regarding the cession of rights. Do you know about this contract?

-M: To be honest, I don't know. As much as I look [at it]... I don't know. I have signed things, but I never look at the contracts. I don't know what I sign. 

It's insisted Messi speaks a little louder. He says: "I don't know, it's my way of talking." The interrogation continues. 

-J: Aha. And in relation to other service contracts that have been signed, do you know anything?

-M: Nothing, nothing. 

The judge shows Messi a contract signed by him and asks if he recognises the signature. At first he asks where the signature is and then he says it is his, although he adds that he doesn't remember the document. 

-J: OK. Since what year have you received an elevated income due to image rights?

-M: To be honest, I've never looked at the subject of money. It's something my dad manages. I trust him. I dedicate myself to football. That's what I do. Everything that is to do with contracts and...

-J: But you are the final destination for the income which is spread out among [the family]? Explain a little more to me.

-M: Yes, it's mine [the money]. But at the end of the year I see the summary of what I have, of what I have done in the year. But I don't ask where the money comes from. I know what the club pays me, but nothing else, nothing else (...)

-J: Apart from your working relationship with the club, do you know or are you aware of the image rights you generate? 

-M: No, as I said. The only thing I know is what's happened at the end of the year. What I have, what I did. I don't know where the money is, where it goes...

-J: To a society? To a company? 

-M: I don't know. I remember signing a contract with Adidas, a brand that sponsors me, but I don't know how. 

-J: Look, I am going to show you a series of documents to see if you have any knowledge of them, because your name appears on them all, OK? This is the first, from January 2006. 

-M: Yes, I remember that I signed a contract with Adidas. 

-J: And the others you can see here? With Danone? 

-M: Yes, I can see I did, because that's my signature. 

Messi is likely to have to respond to similar questions when he appears in court this week. According to El Periodico, the norm would be for him to not change anything from his original statement - especially when his father, Jorge Messi, has made himself responsible for the management of the star's image rights. 

Jorge Messi had said: "My son has always and only dedicated himself to football." Messi has told the same story. It now has to be decided by a court if they agree with them.