Cristiano Ronaldo: Spanish authorities confirm tax fraud investigations into Real Madrid superstar at ‘advanced’ stage
Portuguese ace has allegedly stored £126m in Caribbean tax havens since 2009... and could soon face high-profile court case
SPANISH authorities have been looking into Cristiano Ronaldo’s alleged tax fraud for the last 18 MONTHS.
It was reported this week that the Real Madrid superstar has directed at least £126million in image rights through Caribbean tax havens since 2009.
Ronaldo’s representatives Gestifute - owned by high-profile agent Jorge Mendes - have strongly denied the claims and published documents that they believe prove his innocence.
But Spanish newspaper , who initially broke the news over the weekend, has revealed that investigations into the Portuguese ace are now at an ‘advanced’ stage.
Ronaldo’s case has yet to be passed on to prosecutors.
However, reports insist that does NOT mean the former Manchester United man will avoid a high-profile court case.
An official investigation is said to have begun, in secret, on December 3 LAST YEAR.
And sources within Spain’s Inland Revenue claim their investigations will continue to take place ‘in silence’ – and will only be brought before a judge when all evidence is gathered.
The secretary general of the Spain’s tax union called for Ronaldo to face SIX YEARS in prison.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi was sentenced to 21-months in jail for tax evasion in July this year.
But the Argentinian has served no time behind bars because jail terms of less than two years for first-time offenders are normally suspended.
United boss Jose Mourinho, Bernabeu team-mate Fabio Coentrao and Monaco striker Radamel Falcao – all clients of Mendes – are also alleged to be involved in the scam which was revealed by Football Leaks.