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Madrid (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo shrugged off allegations that he hid millions of euros in tax havens by insisting “he who owes nothing, fears nothing”, Spanish radio reported Thursday.
“You believe I am worried? He who owes nothing, fears nothing,” said the&nbsp;superstar after being approached by Portuguese TV station RTP to respond to the allegations after Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday evening.
An international consortium of media organisations last week claimed that a huge data leak involving 18 million documents showed the Portuguese skipper hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in the British Virgin Islands.
Ronaldo, 31, has strongly denied all claims of wrongdoing.
On Wednesday, his club side came out in his defence.
“Real Madrid demand the maximum respect for a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, whose behaviour has been exemplary during his entire time at our club,” Madrid said in a statement.

Nothing to fear, says Ronaldo in tax row

Nothing to fear, says Ronaldo in tax row - World Soccer Talk

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Madrid (AFP) – Spanish tax authorities are investigating reports that Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in tax havens.
A group of 12 European newspapers made the allegations based on leaked documents obtained by German weekly Der Spiegel.
Other high profile clients of Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes were also implicated, including Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.&nbsp;
Both Ronaldo and Mourinho&nbsp;say that they have fully complied with British and Spanish fiscal requirements.
“The information in the hands of the tax office correspond to what we have learned in the media,” Jose Enrique Fernandez de Moya, secretary for Spain’s tax office, told radio station COPE.
“What I can say is that the tax agency is an extraordinarily professional agency and, as it has to, will carry out the inspections it sees fit.”
Lawyers for Ronaldo told the newspapers at the heart of the investigation that a Spanish tax audit aimed at the Portuguese was “still in progress.”
Ronaldo is far from the only high profile footballer to find himself investigated by the Spanish tax authorities.
Earlier this year, Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was given a 21-month prison sentence while fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano was handed a one-year suspended sentence, both for tax fraud.

Spanish taxman investigates Ronaldo revelations

Spanish taxman investigates Ronaldo revelations - World Soccer Talk

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Lisbon (AFP) – Fresh from vanquishing Atletico Madrid with his 39th Real Madrid hat-trick, Cristiano Ronaldo will be guaranteed a hero’s welcome when he returns to where his career began at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
Ronaldo has another landmark in his sights as he is just two goals short of 100 in European competitions and history suggests he won’t go easy on the side that handed him his breakthrough.
The three-time World Player of the Year has scored on all five occasions he has faced his former clubs in the Champions League, netting twice against Sporting for Manchester United in 2007 and as Real produced a stunning late fightback from 1-0 down with 89 minutes played to win 2-1 when the sides met back in September.
Despite that Ronaldo is still loved by the Sporting faithful and leading Portugal to their first ever international tournament win at Euro 2016 has only embellished his hero status in his homeland.
“Divided heart,” ran the headline in Lisbon sports daily Record on Monday with a split picture of Ronaldo wearing a Sporting and Real jersey.
Whilst a point will be enough for Madrid to seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League for a record 20th consecutive season, anything other than victory will end Sporting’s chances of making the last 16.
A first league victory over Atletico in four seasons on Saturday also allowed Real to open up a four-point lead at the top of La Liga and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 29 games.
“We know that we are facing the strongest team in the world right now, that is why they won the Champions League (last season),” Sporting coach Jorge Jesus told Spanish sports daily Marca.
“But Sporting have desire, confidence and we will play like in Madrid with a lot of quality and confidence.”
Had Sporting held on at the Bernabeu Group F would have a very different look, but Jesus believes his young side will have learned from that experience as a Ronaldo free-kick and Alvaro Morata’s stoppage time header snatched victory for Real from the jaws of defeat.
“We lacked that little bit of experience you have to have in the last 10 minutes in the Champions League, like all the Real Madrid players have. We ought to have gotten a better result,” added Jesus.
“When you are winning 1-0 in the 83rd minute, you can fail to win but you can’t lose.
“Ronaldo’s free-kick is an example. He is an intelligent guy, with experience and he took this free-kick which was decisive. When we say he is the best in the world, it is because he has everything.”
The only debate over Ronaldo’s return is whether he starts in a centre-forward role as he did against Atletico or whether Zinedine Zidane recalls the fit again Karim Benzema.
Real appeared better balanced with Ronaldo flanked by Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez at the weekend, but Zidane has previously stated the “BBC” frontline of Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema will always start when fit.
“The three of them are the best,” said Zidane on Monday.
“For their history, for what they have done, but for me that doesn’t matter, I am interested in the group as a whole.”

Homecoming king Ronaldo eyes European century

Homecoming king Ronaldo eyes European century - World Soccer Talk

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Funchal (Portugal) (AFP) – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo inaugurated his own hotel on Friday called “CR7” after his initials and shirt number, while the airport on his home island of Funchal was renamed in his honour.
Just two weeks after leading Portugal to the Euro 2016 title in France, the national team skipper appeared on a terrace of the red-coloured building overlooking the sea, wearing a white baseball cap.
“It’s a little strange. I never could have imagined that I would be a hotelier at the age of 31,” said Ronaldo of his hotel which opened for business on July 1.
Meanwhile, the president of the Madeira region, Miguel Albuquerque, said that the local airport would be named in Ronaldo’s honour.
On Saturday, Ronaldo will visit his new museum which is situated on the ground floor of his hotel.
A second “CR7” hotel is due to open in Lisbon later this year with two others planned in Madrid and New York in 2017.

Ronaldo opens own "CR7" hotel, gives name to airport

Ronaldo opens own "CR7" hotel, gives name to airport - World Soccer Talk

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Paris (AFP) – Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo infuriated minnows Iceland, claiming they had a “small mentality” after their 1-1 Euro 2016 draw on Tuesday.&nbsp;
Here are five of Ronaldo’s finest rants over his career:

– Lucky Iceland will “do nothing”

A glorious night for Iceland on their first ever appearance at a major international tournament was soured by Ronaldo’s jibe that the island of 330,000 people will do nothing at the tournament despite holding the Group F favourites.
“Iceland didn’t try nothing, they just defend, defend, defend, they had two chances and scored a goal, it was a lucky night for them,” he raged.
“It’s why I think they will do nothing here. In my opinion, it’s a small mentality.”

– “Rich, handsome and a great player”

When Real Madrid went to Dinamo Zagreb in September 2011, Croatian fans taunted Ronaldo with chants supporting his eternal rival for the title of the world’s best player, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
“I think that because I am rich, handsome and a great player people are envious of me. I don’t have any other explanation,” replied Ronaldo.

– Madrid teammates not up to scratch

Even the standards at the richest club in the world did not please Ronaldo as he blasted teammates over a 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in February that left them languishing in third place in La Liga. They finished the season second.
“If everyone was at my level, we would be top,” said Ronaldo.
“Every year according to the press it seems I am rubbish, but the numbers and statistics don’t lie.
“I don’t want to undervalue any of my teammates, but when the best aren’t there it is difficult to win.”

– Biased Blatter

Even disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been a target of Ronaldo’s wrath.
In one address, Blatter mocked Ronaldo for having “more expenses for the hairdresser” than “good boy” Messi.
“This video shows clearly the respect and consideration that FIFA has for me, for my club and my country,” blasted Ronaldo, who at the time had only won one Ballon d’Or to crown the world’s best player.
“Much is explained now. I wish Mr. Blatter health and a long life, with the certainty that he will continue to witness, as he deserves, the successes of his favourite teams and players.”

– “I’m too good”

Even before rising to the status of the world’s best player, Ronaldo was ultra-sure of himself, claiming he was “too good” when hammered by rival players and the press alike for going to ground too easily when playing for English giants Manchester United.
Ronaldo was lambasted by Middlesbrough players and then coach Gareth Southgate for winning and converting a decisive late penalty as United progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2007.
“Why does controversy follow me? I don’t know. For me, it’s a penalty. Maybe someone doesn’t like, maybe because I’m too good,” said a 22-year-old Ronaldo.
However, one of Ronaldo’s most steadfast defenders, legendary former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson backed Ronaldo.
“I don’t know what they’re going on about, Jesus God,” snarled the surly Scot.

Cristiano Ronaldo: five of his most famous rants

Cristiano Ronaldo: five of his most famous rants - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_160165" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cristiano-ronaldo2.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-160165" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-160165" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2015/12/cristiano-ronaldo2-600x399-600x399.webp" alt="Photo credit: AFP." width="600" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a>Photo credit: AFP.</div>
Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is already looking toward life after soccer as he unveiled plans to invest over €37 million ($40m) in hotels bearing his ‘CR7’ moniker in his native Portugal, Madrid and New York.
“Many footballers finish their careers without knowing what they want to do. For me it’s clear – I want to take care of my brands,” Ronaldo told AFP on Thursday.
The triple Ballon d’Or winner unveiled his plans to link up with the Pestana Hotel Group, who like him are natives of Madeira, with ‘CR7’ hotels planned in three cities linked to his career – Funchal, Lisbon and Madrid – and another in New York where he has been linked with Major League Soccer in the future.
“At 30 years I still have a lot of options, I have great support around me, I’m really very happy,” insisted Ronaldo, adding “other projects will come. What I want is that my name will always be the best in whatever domain I work”.
Ronaldo already looked at ease in his grey businessman’s suit and red tie as he discussed his plans for the future in the lounge of one of Pestana’s luxury hotels in Lisbon.
<div id="attachment_160166" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/cristiano-ronaldo-long.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-160166" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-160166 size-medium" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2015/12/cristiano-ronaldo-long-300x453-300x453.webp" alt="Photo credit: AFP." width="300" height="453" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></figure></div></a>Photo credit: AFP.</div>
Although he hopes his career will continue “another six, seven or even ten years,” it is out of the question that he will follow a career on the touchline.
“I don’t see myself as a coach, it’s not my ambition,” he said. “But who knows if I’ll change my mind!”
<h3>— Back to his roots —</h3>
Born in a working class area in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, Ronaldo was scouted aged 11 by Sporting Lisbon. He went on to play for Manchester United before joining Real Madrid in 2009 and has a contract which runs until 2018.
The best paid soccer player in the world with €70 million ($76.6m) in earnings last year, Ronaldo already has a ‘CR7’ fashion line, and has lent his image to many other brands. But he has not forgotten his roots and it is on his native island that he will open his first hotel.
“Madeira is the most important starting point for me,” he said.
The first hotel will open there in summer 2016 and will be followed by another in Lisbon where Ronaldo moved as a youngster with a Madrid site planned for 2017.
“My world is that of football but life changes and I always wanted to own a hotel,” he explained.
“It was impossible to throw myself alone into a project of this scale, to each his own area of competence. Pestana is the best Portuguese group in this business.
“The first project will be born in Madeira, where our roots and our families are,” explained the 123-times capped international, adding that the hotel will be located close to the museum dedicated to his career that he financed at Funchal.
“All investments are split on a 50-50 basis” between Ronaldo and the hotel group, for a total of sum of €75 million ($81m), explained Dionisio Pestana, owner and son of the founder of the hotel group.
Pestana, founded in Madeira in 1972, is the biggest hotel group in Portugal and is present in 16 countries across Europe, Africa and America with 87 hotels, six golf courses and two casinos, with an annual turnover of €222 million ($240m).

Cristiano Ronaldo will invest $40 million in a series of CR7 hotels

Cristiano Ronaldo will invest $40 million in a series of CR7 hotels - World Soccer Talk

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