Cristiano Ronaldo Land Into Serious Trouble In Spain

Spanish prosecutors have accused the Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo of defrauding the authorities of €14.8m (£12.9m) in unpaid taxes between 2011 and 2014.

Madrid’s regional state prosecutor alleged that the player used what it deemed to be a shell company in the Virgin Islands to “create a screen in order to hide his total income from Spain’s tax office”.

It said Ronaldo “intentionally” did not declare income of €28.4m (£25m) related to image rights, and declared €11.5m of earnings from 2011-14 when his real income was almost €43m.

The prosecutor also alleged that the Portuguese falsely reported income as coming from real estate, which it said had greatly reduced his tax rate.

Ronaldo’s agents, GestiFute, had previously maintained he was up to date on his taxes. In a statement on Tuesday GestiFute said: “There is no offshore structure for evading taxes … [Cristiano Ronaldo has never] had a tax problem, contrary to what the Spanish prosecutors insinuate. All contractual modifications … have been made to guarantee that the incomes [Ronaldo derives] fully observe Spanish tax regulations.”

In December last year, GestiFute published details of Ronaldo’s £191m assets in response to allegations of tax evasion.

“The player has been aware of his tax obligations right away from the beginning of his professional career in all of the countries in which he has resided and has not and has never had any issue with the tax authorities of any of those countries,” it said in a statement.

Last month, tax officials said Ronaldo had adjusted his tax declarations and paid an extra €6m (£5.3m) in 2014.