A new scandal shakes European football. The Andorran Justice opened an investigation into an alleged smuggling scheme linked to the purchase and resale of high-end watches involving several soccer players, including Argentinian Giovani Lo Celso, who
were cited as being investigated.
The case points to the company Best In Asociados, accused of selling luxury goods without declaring taxes. According to the investigation, the mechanism consisted of importing watches from Spain to Andorra without paying the corresponding VAT and then selling them to customers, including professional players. In addition to the midfielder of the Argentine National Team, the other names that appear in the file are those of Dani Carvajal, Santi Cazorla, David Silva, César Azpilicueta, Juan Bernat and Thomas Partey
. Giovani Lo Celso is on the watch buyers list Among the most relevant cases are Partey, who would have purchased three watches from the Patek Philippe brand for a total of close to 415 thousand euros, and Bernat, who is listed with a purchase of four pieces, also high-end, for about 367 thousand euros.
Meanwhile, Lo Celso appears with two purchases worth approximately 83 thousand euros
.
According to the judicial reconstruction, the mechanism included the physical transfer of the watches and, in some cases, the separate shipment of the boxes and documentation to avoid customs controls. In this way, at least 38 irregular imports would have occurred, with a total value estimated at 1.35
million euros.
In addition, researchers are analyzing whether there were cash payments. In this regard, they detected suspicious bank movements and the discovery of more than 200,000 euros in a safe deposit box linked to the main defendant, identified as Diego G.C., who is in preventive detention.
For the time being, the players are mentioned as buyers and not as directly responsible for the operation. In fact, some argue that the businessman under investigation was responsible for managing taxes, which could separate them from potential tax liabilities
. Lo Celso and the other players cited as being investigated
The judge in charge, Joan Carles Moynat, requested the collaboration of the Spanish authorities to take statements from the players and other potential players involved in the commercial chain, while trying to determine the scope of the
maneuver and if there were cash payments.
At the same time, the case puts under the spotlight an operation that mixes the world of football with the luxury market and possible tax crimes at the international level, in a context that could lead to new judicial implications.
