The agent of Manchester United star Alexis Sanchez has hit out at his Spanish jail sentence.

Fernando Felicevich appeared to come close to accusing the Spanish authorities of xenophobia as he claimed foreign stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had also been put through a nightmare.

The player's tax fraud punishment is a suspended 16-month prison term after a plea bargain.

Chile striker Sanchez admitted defrauding €1million (£890,000) on image rights while with Barcelona.

But he will not be locked up as first-time offenders in Spain rarely serve jail time.

Felicevich, who brokered Sanchez's controversial move from Arsenal last month, said in a lengthy statement: “Today the Spanish Tax Agency has once again leaked details of an agreement between our representative Alexis Sanchez and Spanish prosecutors.

“Spanish prosecutors and its Treasury Department have placed more than 30 professional footballers in the same situation, accusing them of the same crimes and threatening them with prison sentences.

“Almost every member of the Real Madrid and Barcelona squad have been placed in this situation, even though these clubs use a standard pay formula for their first team which has been accepted by the Spanish Treasury in the past.

“Throughout all these cases, whilst violating the rights of those under investigation, the repeated, continuous and obscene leaks have been an element of pressure on the players to force them to accept agreements like the one today, which once again has been leaked to the media.

“On some occasions, there has been no other way out but to surrender to the pressure, and to avoid worst injustices, accept unfair agreements like this one.

“Many players and managers have had to do the same thing, and many others will continue to do so."