REAL MADRID MUST ENSURE CR EXIT DOESN'T OCCUR
Ronaldo has been "sad" before and a new contract cheered him up. Now Real Madrid have got to ensure he stays in light of his recent tax issues.
There is only one match sold out at the Confederations Cup. It’s Russia against Portugal and it’s for one reason and one reason only. Cristiano Ronaldo. The brand new Spartak stadium in Moscow’s north will be full to the brim on Wednesday evening as locals rush to catch a glimpse of the Real Madrid superstar.
He is bigger than his national team; bigger than his country. He is a transcendental presence in this team – in any team – and is one of only two players in the world who can garner this kind of Bieber-esque fandom. You can probably guess the other.
If Real Madrid end up losing him due to the current furore over his tax case then it would be an epic act of self-harm. The reports which emerged over the past few days that Ronaldo was unhappy and ready to quit Spain were shocking – even more so because they were not denied. Clearly Ronaldo or somebody with his consent wanted those stories to be read.
The Spanish Public Prosecutor alleges that Ronaldo evaded €14.7m in tax on his image rights from the period covering 2011-2014. The authorities would like to hear from Ronaldo and have invited him to sit in front of them to explain himself on July 31.
Whether Ronaldo gets off, faces a fine or a criminal trial will be decided then.
There is a suggestion that Ronaldo is unhappy with the way in which Real tried to distance themselves from this story when it first broke. According to Spanish media their first response was to ensure no pictures of Ronaldo in a Real Madrid shirt appeared on any story commenting on the tax case brought against him by the Spanish tax authorities.
It is also being reported that Ronaldo would like the club to take care of the fine he might owe – some €35m. If that is the case then that is a small price to pay. Sure, clubs take care of their players' income tax and their image rights are another thing all together. That is very much a player’s own responsibility. But if it’s a case that he ends up owing that amount then Real should immediately step in and pay it.
Give the man what he wants. Pay his tax bill. Move him into a palace. Build him another statue if you have to. Just make sure he’s happy.
Manchester United found out the hard way that it’s better to have Ronaldo and £84m less in the bank than have the money but no Ronaldo. Nobody can score goals like him; nobody can draw attention – on and off the field – like him. He is a one-man industry; the greatest player in the history of the club and Real should consider themselves lucky to have him. Whatever price he fetches will be cheap.
If it comes down to the matter of €35m? Ronaldo makes that for Real Madrid – and plenty more.
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