Ronaldo ready to shell out money to avoid prison sentence
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is willing to pay any amount to the Spanish authorities to withdraw their request to give him prison sentence for an alleged tax fraud amounting to €14.7 million. This development was reported by Xinhua news agency. However, the 5-time world footballer of the year will not admit that he has committed any criminal offence.
Spanish Treasury requests 8-year prison sentence for Xabi
The Spanish Treasury pleaded for an 8-year prison sentence for another Real Madrid player Xabi Alonso, last week for 3 cases of alleged tax fraud totalling to €8 million. This provoked Ronaldo to negotiate with the Spanish Treasury and come to a solution rather than fight the case in the courts.
Ronaldo offers blank cheque to Spanish authorities
Just like his former team-mate Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo too has denied the charges against him. But, he has now offered a blank cheque to the Spanish Treasury to avoid the prison sentence. Reports claim that he first offered €3.8 million but the Spanish authorities refused to accept the amount and want €25.6 million instead.
Ronaldo continues to deny any wrong doing
The Portugal captain's earnings from his image rights were being sent to various tax havens including the Virgin Islands. However, the striker claims he was unaware of it. He said that he had ordered his people to pay the taxes in Spain and therefore, he refuses to accept any criminal responsibility for their wrongdoings.