Former Vissel Kobe star Andres Iniesta, who has been accused by Japanese tax authorities of failing to declare income, said Saturday that the back taxes he had been asked to pay had been fully settled.

The Osaka Regional Taxation Bureau says the Spain World Cup winner Iniesta was required to file an income tax report as a resident of Japan for his J-League club contract in 2018 that was less than a year long and owes 580 million yen ($3.8 million) in back taxes, sources close to the matter said.

Iniesta, currently at Emirates Club in the United Arab Emirates, said in a statement issued by his management agency that at the time, he had filed for income tax in Spain and had been subject to double taxation in Japan and Spain.

He added he hopes that excess tax payments can be returned to him, following a process that is under way regarding the two countries' agreement on double taxation, according to the statement.

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