Former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo told reporters “it is now over” after accepting a two-year jail sentence following a guilty plea to four counts of tax fraud.
Ronaldo left Madrid to join Italian champions Juventus this summer in a deal worth a reported €100m, with the Portuguese star accepting his guilt in advance of the outcome.
Between 2011 and 2014 Ronaldo committed four years’ worth of tax fraud, comprising of four individual crimes of which the total amount reached €14,768,897.
The Juventus star Ronaldo has been found guilty of defrauding the Spanish state and has agreed to pay €18.8m and accept a two-year suspended jail term.
“It is now over,” Ronaldo told reporters as he left the Madrid court, in quotes cited by Diario AS.
The imposition of a two-year prison term means he will not serve any time in jail, due to his being a first offence and anything under two years and one day in Spain means no custodial sentence is applied.
Nonetheless, the Treasury wants to maintain the two-year sentence to prevent any re-offending, with any further wrongdoings having to be served as it would be a second offence.
Xabi Alonso also appeared in court on Tuesday although no outcome has yet been reached on his alleged guilt.
Alonso however has not accepted any wrongdoing and has alleged crimes relating to a period between 2010 and 2012.
El Pais report the ex-Liverpool star could be hit with a five-year prison sentence and a €4m fine over three counts of fiscal fraud.
