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Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa could be in big trouble for a case of tax fraud in Spain.

According to a report by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, the Atletico Madrid hitman could face up to six months of imprisonment in a tax fraud case, with the former Chelsea striker set for a trial on June 4.

Costa is reported to have defrauded the Spanish state of over €1m for not declaring payments following his move to Chelsea in 2014.

The prosecution even wants the former Chelsea striker to face six months of imprisonment as well as pay a fine of €507,208.

However, Spanish laws allow sentences less than two years for non-violent crimes to be exchanged for a fine, meaning that Costa is unlikely to be put behind bars in a tax fraud case, but would rather pay the supposed fine.

If found guilty, Costa will have to pay €36,500, on top of his over half a million fine, to avoid time in prison.

It isn’t only Costa who has been found in such a case, as Cristiano Ronaldo was also found guilty of a similar offence in Spain back in January 2019 but the former Real Madrid star escaped with a fine. Lionel Messi and his dad Jorge had a similar case with tax fraud back in 2017.

Messi was given a 21-month sentence, but ended up paying a fine of €252,000 in order to escape a stint behind bars.