PRISON SENTENCE LOOMS AS CRISTIANO RONALDO FACES TRIAL FOR TAX FRAUD

---

Four times and current Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo will arrive in court on Monday to begin his trial for tax evasion.

The Portuguese international has been accused of defrauding Spanish tax authorities out of €14.7 million (£13m/$16.4m) in earnings from image rights. Like Lionel Messi before him, the 32-year-old faces a prison sentence and heavy fines if found guilty, though he strongly denies the charges.

The legal troubles led to claims that Ronaldo wants to leave Madrid this summer, but speculation has died down and the issue is expected to be resolved as the case begins.

The former Manchester United forward will be present in court on Monday as evidence is presented.

If the judge believes there is enough evidence to suggest there has been a crime, Ronaldo will go through a full trial and could face a prison sentence.

Ronaldo’s lawyers are expected to argue that the player misinterpreted the tax laws.

Madrid’s criminal prosecution system have accused the star of evading €14.7m in payments

The prosecutor’s office filed a complaint on June 12, stating he made a “voluntary and conscious” breach of his obligations in Spain by creating a business structire to conceal his earnings between 2011 and 2014

• 2011 – €1,393,906.83

• 2012 – €1,665,304.09

• 2013 – €3,201,266.93

• 2014 – €8,508,419.55

Ronaldo strenuously denies the claims and Gestifute – the company owned by his agent Jorge Mendes – backed him up.

Gestifute said the company, Tollin, does not amount to an offshore structure for evading taxes and was established in 2004 when Ronaldo signed for United.

“The public prosecutor has filed today a complaint against Cristiano Ronaldo and not a claim, which implies a substantial change,” the statement read.

“The public prosecutor understands that CR [Ronaldo] is participating in an offshore structure, similar to that of other players, when most of the revenues were obtained directly by the player, without the participation of any of his societies.

“The rest of his revenues were paid to the player and declared in Spain according to the terms that the player’s advisors considered applicable.