The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cristiano ronaldo

  • Real Madrid backs Ronaldo in tax fraud allegation

    Real Madrid backs Ronaldo in tax fraud allegation

     

    Real Madrid have expressed “full confidence” in Cristiano Ronaldo after their star forward was accused of tax fraud by the Spanish authorities.

    On Tuesday, prosecutors in Madrid filed a complaint to a court in Pozuelo de Alarcon accusing Ronaldo of a “voluntary” and “conscious” breach of his tax obligations.

    According to a letter sent to the court by the prosecutor’s office, the 32-year-old is alleged to have created a “business structure” in 2010 to conceal his earnings from image rights between 2011 and 2014. He is claimed to have defrauded the Public Treasury out of €14.7million.

    Ronaldo’s representatives Gestifute issued a lengthy statement strongly denying the accusation, insisting “there has never been concealment, or the slightest intention to conceal” earnings.

    Gestifute, the group owned by the Madrid star’s agent Jorge Mendes, offered a breakdown of their client’s arrangements for payments related to image rights, which they say does not amount to an offshore structure for evading taxes and has not been altered since the company in question, Tollin, was established in 2004 when Ronaldo signed for Manchester United.

    Madrid have now also offered their support to the four-time Ballon d’Or winner, believing him to be innocent of any wrongdoing.

    A statement released on the club’s official website read: “Real Madrid C.F have full confidence in our player Cristiano Ronaldo, who we understand has acted in accordance with legality regarding the fulfilment of his fiscal obligations.

    “Since his arrival at Real Madrid C.F in July 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo has always shown a clear will to fulfil all his tax obligations.

    “Real Madrid C.F. are absolutely convinced that our player Cristiano Ronaldo will prove his total innocence in this process.

    “Real Madrid C.F. hope that justice is done as quickly as possible so that his innocence can be proven as soon as possible.”

  • Ronaldo in  €14.7million tax fraud saga

    Ronaldo in  €14.7million tax fraud saga

     

    Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of defrauding Spanish tax authorities out of €14.7million.

    Prosecutors in Madrid have filed a complaint to a court in Pozuelo de Alarcon in which they accuse the Real Madrid star of a “voluntary” and “conscious” breach of his tax obligations, news agency EFE have said.

    Ronaldo is alleged to have created a “business structure” in 2010 to conceal his earnings from image rights between 2011 and 2014, according to a letter sent to the court by the prosecutor’s office.

    The Portugal captain, named by Forbes this month as the world’s highest-paid athlete, is claimed to have defrauded the Public Treasury out of a total of €14,768,897.

    Gestifute, the company owned by Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes, have so far been unavailable for comment.

    Ronaldo moved to Madrid in 2009 after Manchester United accepted a then-world record transfer offer of £80m.

    He has won 11 major trophies in his time in Spain, including a LaLiga and Champions League double in the 2016-17 season.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Father to Newborn Twins

    Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Father to Newborn Twins

    Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid forward, has reportedly become the father of surrogate twins.

    According to reports in the Portuguese media, the children, a boy and girl called Eva and Mateo, were born on Thursday.

    SIC, the Portuguese TV channel, reported: “Mateo and Eva, those are the names of Cristiano Ronaldo’s twins. The boy and girl were born to a surrogate mum. It’s a secret that Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t yet revealed to the rest of the world.”

    Ronaldo, his family and Gestifute, the player’s representatives, are yet to comment on the reports, which were circulated by Portuguese newspapers and websites on Friday.

    In March, The Sun claimed that Ronaldo was to become the father of two twin boys, born to a surrogate mother on the west coast of the United States.

    Ronaldo is already a father to one son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, who is now six years old. The announcement of the child’s birth in July 2010 was made via Ronaldo’s official social media channels and took the world by surprise.

    The 32-year-old, who inspired Madrid to Champions League glory in Cardiff last weekend, is currently dating Georgina Rodriguez, a Spanish model.

    Ronaldo’s representatives have been approached for comment.

  • Chinese club tables £175m bid  for Ronaldo

    Chinese club tables £175m bid  for Ronaldo

     

    A Chinese club are preparing a £175million bid for Cristiano Ronaldo, with the offer of a five times increase on his Real Madrid wages, according to reports in Spain.

    Ronaldo signed a five year, £365,000-a-week contract at Real last November, but will be offered over £1.8million-a-week in China – or £95million a year – if the reports are true.

    Several Chinese Super League clubs have signed big name players from European clubs thanks to huge transfer fee and wage offers, including Oscar, Hulk and Axel Witsel.

    However, signing Ronaldo – the current Ballon D’Or holder who has won the European Championship and Champions League in the last 12 months – would be on a different scale to any previous move.

    According to AS, an unnamed club will next week make the amazing offer to Madrid, claiming a fee of around 200 million euros – or £175m – is on the table.

    They also say Ronaldo will be offered in the region of 120 million euros in wages, which is five times what he earns at the Bernabeu.

    Ronaldo is currently with the Portugal squad as they prepare to face Latvia in a World Cup qualifier, before travelling to Russia for the Confederations Cup.

    The 32-year-old has scored 51 goals in 50 appearances for club and country during the 2016-17 campaign, showing no signs of slowing down as Real won the league and Champions League double, scoring twice against Juventus in Cardiff to help his side lift the latter trophy.

    Earlier this week he refused to rule out leaving Real, admitting ‘nothing is impossible’ when pressed on his future. As well as mega-rich Chinese clubs, former side Manchester United are also rumoured to be considering a bid

  • Ronaldo still world’s highest-paid athletes with £71.8m

    Ronaldo still world’s highest-paid athletes with £71.8m

     

    Real Madrid maestro Cristiano Ronaldo retained his top spot as the world’s highest-paid athlete as Forbes released its annual ranking of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes.

    With earnings of £71.8million ($93m) the 32-year-old Portuguese is top of the pile for the second consecutive year.

    Before Ronaldo, the best-paid sports star was either Tiger Woods or Floyd Mayweather for 15 years in a row.

    Woods ranks No 17 this year, while Mayweather did not make the cut, having had no fights over the past 12 months.

    Cost of admission to the 2017 list is the highest ever at £16.5m ($21.4m), up £463,000 ($600,000) from the previous year.

    ‘Massive TV contracts are fueling bigger salaries across team sports, pushing the entry level to qualify for the top 100 athletes higher than ever, but the retirement of several prolific endorsers like Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant dented sponsorship income this year,’ said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor of Forbes Media.

    Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees and licensing income for the 12 months through June 1 based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders.

    The golfers’ income includes course design work. Forbes do not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees, nor do they include investment income.

    The list of elite athletes consists of players from 11 different sports. Basketball dominates the list with a record 32 NBA players among the top 100, up from 18 in 2016, followed by baseball with 22 players, American football with 15 and football with 9.

    There are 21 countries represented on this year’s World’s Highest-Paid Athletes list, with Americans (63) the most prevalent thanks to sky-high salaries in basketball, football and baseball.

    Six Brits landed in the top 100, led by golfer Rory McIlroy at No 6 with £38.6m ($50m). NBA player Al Horford (No 44 with £21.7m ($28.1m) heads five athletes from the Dominican Republic, while three Spaniards made the cut with Formula One’s Fernando Alonso on top at No 20 with £27.9m ($36m).

    No other country had more than two athletes in the 100.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo: Nigerian fans hail ‘Ororo’ for spectacular EUFA Cup final

    Cristiano Ronaldo: Nigerian fans hail ‘Ororo’ for spectacular EUFA Cup final

    Portugual international, Cristiano Ronaldo, helped his team, Real Madrid, to win the EUFA Champions League Trophy  by beating Juventus, but admirers believe something special in him did the magic.

    His numerous fans in Nigeria hailed each move and shouted “Ororo” each time he scores.

    Ororo in Yoruba language means groundnut oil and what is the link between Ronaldo and groundnut oil?

    “ We call him `Ororo because he is very slippery and fluid in the field. It is difficult to hold him as he is everywhere.

    “He meanders from all angles and slippery like the oil,’’ says a 20-year-old student, Gbenga Ashiru of the is the third-most expensive Association Football transfer on 94 million Euros, from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009.

    Ashiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that on Tuesday in Lagos that Ronaldo contributed immensely to Madrid’s successes in the EUFA campaigns and winning of the Laliga in Spain.

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    “Check out his outings in the just-concluded season.

    “ The Portugal captain now has a remarkable record of 105 goals in 140 Champions League games — 12 of those coming in 13 games this season.

    “Ronaldo has scored 600 goals in all competitions for club and country,’’ he said.

    Another fan, Chris Ige, a sports analyst, says Ronaldo has done so much for his club and country.

    “The nick name “Ororo’’ justifies his contributions to the club and country.

    “The truth is that Ronaldo is a star player who has a way of destabilising opponents and getting vital goals.

    “It is rare to see such players,’’ he said. “The only way to describe his moves is to say that he is very slippery and difficult to cage during games.’’

    Ige noted that at 32, Ronaldo was still good.

    “I am one of his great admirers and have followed his career. I am optimistic he has more to deliver in the next football season,’’ he said.

    However, Wale Amos, a 23-year-old computer analyst, believes that Ronaldo’s prowess was a source of inspiration to many Nigerian youths.

    “Football talents in our country, especially youths, will learn from Ronaldo`s style and translate it into play.

    “I have also seen several of such youths shouting “Ororo’’ while playing and this is where the inspiration comes.

    “Ronaldo is now a cult hero among young talents and they will strive to emulate his style.

    “I am optimistic that one day, Nigeria will have a Cristiano Ronaldo. Indeed, our brand of Ororo will soon emerge and I pray, he should be as good as Cristiano.

    “Nothing comes easy. Such talents need to work hard to get to Ronaldo’s level. I am sure Ronaldo did not become a star over night.

    “We have potential in this country that can rise to Ronaldo’s level and it’s just a matter of time,’’ he said.

    Amos also tasked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to leverage on the local league like the J-League sponsored by the Lagos State Government to discover such stars.

    “I am aware that the J-league has produced stars like Wilfred Ndidi, Leicester City’s Midfielder, who recently won the club’s young player award this year.

    “It has also produced Victor Osimhen, former national U-17 star. There is need to encourage other states to emulate the Lagos example.

    “The aim is to discover many talents and have ready-made materials at all times.

    “Nigeria will benefit from such a venture,’’ he said.

    For those who do not know the meaning of “Ororo’’ and its link to football, Cristiano Ronaldo is the man behind the mask.

    His numerous fans in Lagos gave him the name to show how slippery and fluid he can be in the field.

  • Record-breaking Real Madrid beat Juventus, retain Champions League title

    Record-breaking Real Madrid beat Juventus, retain Champions League title

    Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as holders Real Madrid of Spain on Saturday emerged champions of Europe for a record 12th time after overwhelming 10-man Juventus of Italy.

    In a high-quality UEFA Champions League final match in Cardiff, the Portugal captain put Real Madrid ahead with a first-time finish from 16 yards before Mario Mandzukic equalised.

    He scored from just inside the area with a sensational overhead kick beyond Keylor Navas, a goal that should stand out as one of the best.

    But Real took control of the game after the interval, with Brazilian midfielder Casemiro’s deflected shot restoring the lead.

    Ronaldo then sealed victory for Zinedine Zidane’s side after poking home from close range following Luka Modric’s cross.

    Juventus played the last six minutes with 10 men, after substitute Juan Cuadrado got booked twice inside 18 minutes, before substitute Marco Asensio hit the fourth after Marcelo’s fine pass.

    Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has now won back-to-back Champions League titles since he took charge in January 2016.

    In addition to this, the former Real player won the season’s La Liga title.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Juventus, who are the Serie A champions, have now lost five Champions League finals since they last won the competition in 1996.

  • Bale: I’m taking my pals down the pub if we win

    Bale: I’m taking my pals down the pub if we win

     

    Gareth Bale  will launch a campaign for Real ale if he’s celebrating Champions League glory tomorrow night.

    The Welsh superstar hopes to be the toast of his home town Cardiff if Real Madrid can see off Juventus.

    And the £86m former Tottenham ace reckons he knows the perfect place to introduce his fellow Galacticos to the delights of British beer should they become the first side in history to successfully defend the Champions League.

    While Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Co may be more accustomed to celebrating their career highs in glitzy venues across Europe, Bale is planning something slightly less glamorous… an evening in his own Cardiff bar.

    He said: “I know where I’d want to celebrate. Take the team back to Elevens Bar & Grill and have a few beers.”

    Since becoming the most famous Welsh footballer on the planet, special murals of him have popped up around the city.

    “It’s a bit strange obviously. Growing up in Cardiff and just being a normal Cardiff boy… then seeing massive drawings of you on walls in the street.”

  • Ronaldo named world’s most famous athlete

    Ronaldo named world’s most famous athlete

     

    Cristiano Ronaldo is the most famous athlete in the world, according to a study by broadcaster ESPN.

    The Real Madrid forward has beaten off competition from NBA superstar LeBron James and arch-nemesis Lionel Messi to sit top of the rankings, which are compiled using a tailored algorithm.

    Eight British athletes make the top 100 of the ESPN World Fame 100, with Theo Walcott sitting in 79th – five ahead of 84th-placed Lewis Hamilton.

    And stars from the world of football, golf, basketball, cricket, NFL, tennis, athletics and many other sports feature.

    ESPN director of analytics Ben Alamar came up with the formula which controls the outcome of the list, with earnings, social media influence and Google search popularity all taken into account.

    Joining Ronaldo, James and Messi in the top 10 are tennis ace Roger Federer, veteran golfer Phil Mickelson, Brazilian icon Neymar, world-record sprinter Usain Bolt, another NBA star in the shape of Kevin Durant and multiple Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal.

    In at 10, with the order finalised before his recent arrest on DUI charges in Florida, is Tiger Woods.

    Footballers dominate the World Fame 100, with the sport claiming 38 of the positions available.

    Of those 38, almost a third ply their trade in the Premier League – including Zlatan Ibrahimovic (26), Alexis Sanchez (29) and Wayne Rooney (31).

    The most expensive player ever to play the game, Paul Pogba – himself a prolific presence on Twitter and Instagram – comes in at 40, behind Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori (20) and two Indian cricketers in Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

    There are representatives of table tennis, badminton, swimming, gymnastics, MMA, motorsport and NFL but no rugby players and only one boxer – Manny Pacquaio. Conor McGregor, the UFC fighter who may well move into the boxing ring to fight Floyd Mayweather Jnr, is ranked 25th.

    Speaking of Mayweather, the algorithm does not take into account ‘retired’ athletes, hence the absence of the man they call ‘Money’ from this list.

    Another UFC competitor, Ronda Rousey, is the highest-placed woman on the list at 16th. She leads a total of eight women, four of whom are tennis players.

  • Ronaldo tax debts put at €8m

    Ronaldo tax debts put at €8m

    Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly defrauded the Spanish state out of a figure in excess of €8m.

    According to Cadena SER, Spain’s Tax Agency has forwarded the reports on its investigations into Ronaldo’s tax returns for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 to the prosecutor’s office for financial crimes.

    In its report, the treasury’s inspectors allegedly saw “indications” that the Portuguese committed tax offences, amounting to €8,260,477.

    However, he has attached details of his contracts since 2014, possibly suggesting he was not deliberately hiding his income, which would mean that he is only liable for an administrative offence.

    In order to be guilty of a tax offence in Spain, it is necessary that the amount defrauded exceeds €120,000 and intent can be proved.

    AS explains the biggest difference between the cases of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is that the former made a voluntary payment of €6m in 2014, while the latter refused to comply with the Treasury.

    Messi’s case worsened after he created a partnership in Panama “to continue invoicing behind the Treasury’s back”.

    Furthermore, the Argentine is a tax resident in Spain, thus it is implied that he must pay tax on what he earns overseas to the Spanish Treasury.

    Ronaldo, meanwhile, is under the Regime of Expatriates and only taxed on what he earns in Spain.