statement in which he says he has reached an agreement
with Spanish authorities concerning charges of tax fraud.
The Argentina international appeared in court in an effort to
avoid a custodial sentence being handed down as a result of
two counts of tax evasion.
Mascherano had failed to declare earnings in 2011 and 2012
which amounted to €1.5million.
Reports emerged in Spain earlier on Thursday to suggest
that Mascherano had been handed a year in prison and a
significant fine, but the former Liverpool man says an
agreement has been reached with the Treasury which gives
him "peace of mind".
He has also suggested he could pursue legal action himself
against the firm which he claims gave him poor advice and
which led to the case being opened.
An official statement from Mascherano, published on
Barcelona's website, read: "I want to clarify some issues
related to recent news about myself.
"As of today, I have reached an agreement with the Spanish
tax authorities. As such, with the legal side resolved and
with the confidence of having sorted my financial situation, I
want to issue a short explanation.
"After agreeing to come to Barcelona, I hired a prestigious
Spanish tax firm, with renowned professionals and an
excellent reputation. 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.
"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.
"My new advisors recommended I pay the taxes demanded
by the Treasury, presenting what they called 'corrections'.
"Now, finally and following a bitter delay, we have reached
this agreement, which restores to me the peace of mind of
having fulfilled my obligations.
"I'm a professional sportsman, I don't have huge knowledge
of tax or legal matters. As such, I lean on the people who
handle these technical and, for me, complex terms.
"Throughout my career I've been an honest and responsible
person, respecting my team-mates, the clubs for whom I
have played and the countries where I have chosen to live.
"This situation I've had to go through has given me greater
experience, from which I move on stronger and relaxed as I
knew things were back in order.
"I reserve the possibility of taking action against those who
made incorrect assessments and recommended things to
me that were not correct."
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