'I felt victimised by Madrid'

Lionel Messi spoke about what he felt when tax fraud charges were first brought against him as the Argentine revealed that he felt victimised by the press and the tax authorities from Madrid.

Messi and his father were both found guilty of three counts of tax fraud, totaling 4.7 million euros and was initially handed a 21-month suspended sentence before prosecutors replaced it with a fine.

Messi alleged that there was a concerted effort to ‘attack’ his image. The first allegations against the Argentine came before the World Cup in Brazil.

"I have been through some tough times, like the whole mess with the tax office," he told Sport.

"It was hard because of the way they attacked me and said things about me, my family, my dad, my people. I felt attacked from Madrid and it was hard.

"I felt victimised but I was lucky enough to have the backing of those close to me: of Barcelona, of Catalonia, of journalism [in Catalonia]. That kept me a little more calm,’ the Barcelona playmaker said.

He felt that there was the intention to hit him at a weak moment and even as knew that he was being targeted, he was annoyed.

"I think it was an order to attack me, to hit me and to take advantage of the moment of weakness we were in because of everything that was happening.

"That's how it happened because it was Madrid. That's how it was. I knew it. But even knowing it, it annoyed me and hurt me."

Messi was charged two years ago for using tax havens to avoid paying taxes on his image right between 2009-2009. The Argentine has always maintained that he was unaware of certain documents he has signed.