Reports: Cristiano Ronaldo Wants To Leave Real Madrid After Tax Fraud Accusations

Cristiano Ronaldo is “upset” and wants to leave Real Madrid following allegations that he evaded paying millions of euros in taxes to the Spanish government, according to several reports.

Cristiano Ronaldo May transfer from Real Madrid Due to Tax Evasion Claims

Portuguese publication A Bola reported Friday that the 32-year-old forward is angry with how he has been treated by the Spanish authorities, claiming they are using him as an example because of his status as one of the world’s top soccer players.

Earlier this week, a Spanish prosecutor accused Ronaldo of avoiding 14.7 million euros on image rights earned between 2011 and 2014, alleging the Portuguese star used a shell company in the Virgin Islands to “create a screen in order to hide his total income.”

Ronaldo has denied the allegations, and his agency Gestifute even released a statement following the claims saying that no offshore base was utilized for fiscal fraud and emphasizing that “it is clear the player did not try to evade taxes.”

“He feels he’s honest, has good character and did everything OK,” a source close to Ronaldo told BBC regarding his discontent with his treatment by the Spanish government.

Speaking on Thursday from Portugal’s base in Russia ahead of the Confederations Cup, Ronaldo said that his “conscience is clear” and posted a photo of himself holding a finger to his lips on Instagram with the caption: “Sometimes the best answer is to be quiet.”

Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract has a 1 billion euro ($1.12 billion) release clause.

The four-time Ballon d’Or winner has been with the Spanish club since 2009. He joined after six years with Manchester United, signing with Real for £80 million ($102 million at today’s rate).

Ronaldo signed a five-year extension with the European champions in November 2016. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Real is attempting to persuade their star forward to stay with the club until 2021.

Some believe the Portuguese star — who is the world’s highest-paid athlete for the second straight year — could join the Chinese league, although his advisers say they would prefer he stayed in Europe, which would mean he would likely either play with Paris Saint-Germain or return to the Premier League.

Ronaldo has helped Real win the Champions League three times ( and La Liga twice.

Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer — who also won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008 — has scored a record 105 goals in the competition, 11 more than his Barcelona rival Lionel Messi.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 28: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Real Madrid and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena