REAL MADRID

23 days have passed since the front page of Portuguese newspaper A Bola declared that ‘Cristiano wants to abandon Spain’. The revelation sent shockwaves through Real Madrid.

Ronaldo to stay at Madrid

Three days earlier, the public prosecutor had accused Cristiano Ronaldo of evading €14.7m of tax. Real Madrid came out in support of their talisman. Club President Florentino Pérez stated to the Spanish radio network Onda Cero: “We are confident in him as a person and as a professional”. Portugal were eliminated from the Confederations Cup on 28 June, and ten days have passed since then, without news of Ronaldo’s future.

However, AS has learned that Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to remain at Real Madrid. His decision is made.

As a result, Madrid are including Ronaldo in their plans for the upcoming season. AS understands that Ronaldo is excited by Los Blancos’ business in the transfer market.

The Portuguese will testify in court on 31 July over the fraud accusations levelled towards him, but that should not impede his stay at Madrid.

Full screen Cristiano Ronaldo decides to remain at Real Madrid GETTY IMAGES

How the ‘Case of Cristiano’ has developed

2 December 2016: Der Spiegel accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of tax evasion worth €150m.

30 December 2016: Jorge Mendes says that “In China they are offering Madrid €300m and more than €100m a year to him, but money isn’t everything.”

19 April 2017: After Real Madrid eliminate Bayern Munich from the Champions League, Ronaldo says to the fans: “I only ask them not to whistle me.”

13 June 2017: The public prosecutor accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of fraud totaling €14.7m. A prison sentence of between two and seven years is discussed as a possibility. One day later, Ronaldo states that his conscience is clear.

16 June 2017: The front page of A Bola shocks Real Madrid: “Cristiano wants to abandon Spain”.

19 June 2017: Five days after Real Madrid defend the innocence of their player, Florentino Pérez issues a statement saying: “It is not acceptable that the he is treated like a criminal.”

28 June 2017: Portugal are eliminated from the Confederations Cup by Chile.