Photo: Getty Images

Former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho has been sentenced to seven months in jail over tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid.

The 39-year-old defender, who currently plays for Chinese Super League giants Shanghai SIGP, admitted to a charge of concealing income from his image rights between 2011 and 2012 during his time at Real Madrid.

The public prosecutor had wanted a year-long sentence and a €300,000 fine (£286,824) for Carvalho but it was reduced to seven months and a fine of €142,822 (£127, 979).

Carvalho was given leniency for admitting the crimes and for willingly repaying the full amount obtained fraudulently, which amounted to €545,981 (£489,242).

Carvalho is unlikely to spend time in jail because under Spanish laws jail terms under two years for first time offences are viewed as suspended sentences.