Spanish prosecutors are charging former Real Madrid stars Ricardo Carvalho, Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria with tax fraud, according to latest reports in Spain.
The city’s provincial prosecutor confirmed the charges against the three former players of the top Spanish side in a statement.
The statement added that two other players were under investigation after they received information from the nation’s tax authorities. The court is yet to decide if the players, who are unnamed, would be charged like the other three.
Aside the named Galaticos, former Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao and Real’s Fabio Coentrao are reportedly the two other names under investigation by the authorities. Lisbon-based agency Gestifute that represents the players under investigation Di Maria, Carvalho, Coentrao and Falcao is yet to respond to the allegations.
When Alonso was first named last year by Spanish news source El Mundo, the former Real Madrid player denied any wrongdoing. The Bayern Munich player or his agent is yet to respond this time. All named players aside the Spaniard have been represented by agent Jorge Mendes.
Paris St Germain forward Di Maria – who spent a year at Old Trafford following his exit from Madrid before moving to France – and Euro 2016 winner Calvalho released by Monaco in August are yet to respond as well.
Real superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was also fingered for tax evasion, with reports circulating that he diverted sponsorship funds through companies in tax havens. Many started castigating the Portuguese star and the club had to rise in his defence, asking for “maximum respect.” The statement added that the player’s “behaviour has been exemplary during his entire time at [the] club.”
Gestifute released a strongly worded response, denying allegations and claiming that Ronaldo was innocent. Reports say Ronaldo could be enmeshed in the tax evasion scandal to the tune of £150 million, which could get him a six-year jail term.