Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo has not spoken to Real Madrid officials about a transfer away from Spain and he is not expected to leave the European champions during the close season, club president Florentino Perez said Tuesday.
The prolific striker’s future at the club was thrown into doubt last week when Portuguese newspaper ‘A Bola’ reported that Ronaldo wanted to leave Spain after being accused of committing tax fraud.
Spanish prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against the player accusing him of defrauding tax authorities of 14.7 million euros. Ronaldo has denied any wrongdoing. The 32-year-old signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2021 last November and has a release clause of one billion euros ($1.11 billion).
“I haven’t spoken with Cristiano, I learned about it because of what came out in the newspapers. I don’t have any solution but Cristiano, like everyone else, has a contract and is a Real Madrid player,” Perez told radio station ‘Onda Cero’. “I’m sure he will speak to us about what has happened (with the tax case), which has obviously affected his credibility, and we’ll see what happens.”
Ronaldo is with Portugal at the Confederations Cup in Russia and has not said anything about his future since the ‘A Bola’ story was published. Asked about potential clubs Ronaldo could join, Perez said: “I’m not contemplating Cristiano leaving.”
Meanwhile in another development, ‘El Confidencial’ reported here Tuesday that Ronaldo will testify in front of the tax authorities here July 31.
Mourinho in line of fire
Jose Mourinho became the latest to be accused of defrauding tax authorities by Spanish prosecutors for a sum of £2.9million during his time at Real Madrid. Prosecutors said Tuesday they had filed a claim against the Manchester United manager on two counts of tax fraud dating back to when he coached Real Madrid from 2010-2013. Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 to manage Chelsea for a second spell before signing with United last year.
